Fighting was reported today and two Ethiopian airforce jets bombed locations at Hirgigo (near) Massawa. Eritrea claimed that a power plant nearing completion received a direct hit. Yesterday, both sides reported continued fighting near Senafe as well as artillery exchanges near Bure. The new frontline follows a mountain ridge north of Senafe down into the Mereb river valley north of Tserona and continues to Adi Qwala. Reports from Eritrea indicate that thousands of civilians are fleeing southern Eritrea ahead of the fighting.

Journalists went to a location south of Adi Quala where Eritrea triumphantly displayed the bodies of 24 Ethiopian soldiers after Eritrea managed to recover a hilltop position in hand-to-hand fighting. The terrain is highly favorable to Eritrea here as Adi Quala is something of a natural fortress. Yet if the rout of Eritrean forces in Akele-Guzai continues (ie. if AdiKeyih falls), Eritrea forces in southern Seraye would be isolated and Eritrea would have to consider abandoning Adi Quala.

On May 26, Ethiopia and Eritrea gave few details of the days fighting. Ethiopia simply said its forces were consolidating while Eritrea said fighting was continuing around Senafe, Hazemo, and Adi Quala. The Eritrean forces along the Senafe-Dekemhare highway are trying to make a stand along a mountain pass north of Senafe. A Reuters report indicated that Adi Keyih had fallen but this news was not confirmed and later reports proved that it was still in Eritrean control although thousands of civilians were fleeing in panic. On the eastern Burie and Bada fronts, Eritrea has finally said it would withdraw its troops but the day was marked by heavy artillery exchanges.

"Swift Victory": "Zalambessa appeared to be another relatively swift Ethiopian victory. One Western analyst said Ethiopian commanders appeared to confuse Eritrean defenders by making conspicuous preparations to attack Eritrea's rear positions. Instead, the attack came across the front lines and a western flank Eritrea apparently was not expecting to see approached, the analyst said." -- Washington Post, May 26.

"Heavy Losses at the Front": "Western officials said that the Eritrean vow to withdraw was not only because of a willingness to abide by the peace agreement but also to heavy losses suffered at the front. Italian doctors volunteering their services at Asmara's central hospital said between 700 and 1,000 war wounded had received medical treatment during a 24-hour period this week. Gino Strada, an Italian surgeon, said most of the patients he operated on had been quickly transferred to another location and the vacant beds immediately filled." -- LA Times, May 26.