“Ethiopia will never be defeated”, Abiy Ahmed vows to ‘destroy’ TPLF as he counts on gains

ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed now says nothing will stop his forces from completely “destroying” Tigray People’s Liberation Front [TPLF], now famously known as Tigray Defense Forces [TDF], which has been at war with his administration.

The TDF had seized several towns in Tigray and the neighboring states of Amhara and Afar, prompting the Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] to retreat further south to the capital, Addis Ababa, since July this year.

But in the last four weeks, the re- energized ENDF has moved further north of the country, where it has been launching a series of attacks against TDF, which is now reportedly retreating ahead of a major offensive in coming months.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that critical areas, including Dessie, Kombolcha, and Bati towns, have been retaken from the enemy through the military operation undertaken over the last few days.

Shewa, Kemisse, and Afar Region are fully liberated from the terrorist TPLF occupation, the Premier disclosed. The military offensive will continue till the terrorist TDF is destroyed, state media Fana reported.

While addressing the Commandos involved in the recent operation, the Premier noted, “Nothing will stop us. The enemy will be fully destroyed soon.”

“We have completed the operation that took the enemy from four to five months within fifteen days,” the Prime Minister noted. “Ethiopia will never be defeated. Our country always rises and moves forward with pride. We are accustomed only to pass on gallantry to generations.”

But Tigray Defense Forces spokesperson Getachew Reda dismissed claims that ENDF has flushed Tigray rebels out of Kombolcha and Dessie, adding that TDF had moved out strategically ahead of a major offensive against ENDF in coming weeks.