World | Posted on Dec 25, 2006 at 02:03pm IST

Ethiopian jets bomb Somali airport

CNN-IBN

New Delhi: In the first direct attack on the headquarters of an Islamic movement, Ethiopian fighter jets bombed the main airport in Mogadishu, the Somalian capital, on Monday.

It was not clear how many times the airport was hit and about the number of casualties.

The Russian-made jets bombed Somalia's main airport at midmorning, which just recently reopened after the Islamic takeover of Mogadishu.

On Sunday, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said he was waging war against the Islamists to protect his nation's sovereignty, intensifying a conflict that threatens to engulf the Horn of Africa.

For the first time on Sunday Ethiopia has acknowledged that its troops are fighting in Somalia.

Ethiopian warplanes on Sunday fired missiles and dropped bombs on Islamist positions near Baidoa and at several locations along the two countries' border.

Somali troops, backed by Ethiopian soldiers, captured a key border town on early Monday.

Residents celebrated as government soldiers moved through the border town and headed south in pursuit of fleeing Islamic militiamen.

Ethiopia and Somalia have fought two wars over their disputed border in the past 45 years.

(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)

Comments (0)

All comments will be published after moderation

Trending Searches

#Sania Mirza #Virgin Galactic #Bharatiya Janata Party #Narendra Modi #Brendan Rodgers #Indian Premier League #Ajith Kumar #Tobacco #Guzaarish #Naveen Patnaik #Bharatiya Janata Party #Narendra Modi #Naveen Patnaik #MHADA #Jagan #Bharat Bandh #UDF #Gangtok #VK Singh