UPDATE: Tonight Ethiopia reported details of the fighting in three subsections of the central front. Most striking is the capture of Enda-Gherghis and Ksad-Ika on the highway south of Adi Quala. This indicates that the Ethiopian forces from Mai Mine in Seraye have linked up with those in the central front. Whatever remains of the Eritrean trench line in the Hazemo plain is now in danger of completely unraveling. Also Ethiopia reported liberation of substantial areas of occupied Irob territory including Alitiena and Menekuseyto, although fighting was continuing. (See Spokesperson website)

Meanwhile, a sign of Eritrean desperation, and an example of the sickness of war was reported today as the AP noted: "School buses carried boys who looked no older than their early teens for hasty arming and training."

Meles told diplomats yesterday of rapid military advances on central front, seizure of vital command posts in Zalanbessa area, and claims "virtually broken through at Zalanbessa." Meanwhile Eritrea dismisses the claims, "saying its forces were driving back the Ethiopian offensive along the entire central front" and that it had shot down 3 Mig-23 jets.

On Monday, a western military analyst in Addis Abeba told several journalists that the town of Areza would be the site of the decisive battle, and he expected the battle to start in a few days. However, the offensive came in a broad area all along the central front.

Also late on May 22, Ethiopia announced the capture of May Mine and the surrounding district known as Kohain in southern Seraye. May Mine is on a spur of the highland plateau, 25 km west of the Asmara-Adwa highway (see map). Elsewhere, Eritrea denied the loss of Om Hajer while Eritrea and Ethiopia offered conflicting accounts of a small skirmish on the Burie front.

Commentaries:

A Military Head to Head: Or Why Eritreans Should Keep Their Dollar by: an Ethiopian, May 23

The Gulf War and the Ethiopian Offensive: USA should review its own history