Russian and Cuban reinforcements stalled the W.S.L.F.’s advance on Harar into stalemate
Evidence
However, despite these encouraging developments, the massive influx of Russian and Cuban equipment and advisers was evidently beginning to have some effect for, although they claimed to have entered Harar on more than one occasion, the W.S.L.F. were not able to capture the town. The anticipated victory turned into a stalemate, with reported long-range artillery exchanges between the opposing forces. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 569 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
In an atmosphere of mounting apprehension in February 1978 Somalia officially entered the war and announced a general mobilization. The long-awaited Russian and Cuban counter-offensive was now properly underway and already claiming some successes. The final putsch occurred at the beginning of March when, after subjecting the 8,000 strong Somali force between Jigjiga and Harar to heavy aerial bombardment, the 10th Ethiopian division supported by an entire Cuban armoured brigade of sixty to seventy tanks bypassed the Marda Pass and attacked Jigjiga from the unexpected direction of the north. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 571 (
#expands, via linked claim)
By the end of November the fighting round Harar had become particularly fierce, and reports that Cuban personnel had been evacuated lent substance to W.S.L.F. claims that they were poised to seize control of this ancient Muslim city – or what was left of it after so many devastating attacks. The prospect of a W.S.L.F. breakthrough into Harar seemed all the nearer when the news came that the ‘Afar Liberation Front, who with the Oromo Liberation Front were also now waging a guerrilla war against the Ethiopians, had cut the vital road from the port of Assab which, with Massawa and Jibuti out of action, was the sole port of entry for Russian supplies. — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 569 (
#complicates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Russian and Cuban reinforcements turned the Ogaden offensive into stalemate — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 569; A Cuban-armoured Ethiopian offensive took Jigjiga from an unexpected direction — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 571; Ethiopia’s Soviet-Cuban campaign shifted from the Ogaden to a harder Eritrean front — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 575 (+1 more)
Related
- Russian and Cuban reinforcements turned the Ogaden offensive into stalemate (similarity 0.95)
- A Cuban-armoured Ethiopian offensive took Jigjiga from an unexpected direction (similarity 0.89)
- Somali-allied rebels nearly seized Harar but Ethiopian defenses held (similarity 0.87)
- Ethiopia won a tactical victory at Addis Ababa over Somalia (similarity 0.82)
- Ethiopia’s Soviet-Cuban campaign shifted from the Ogaden to a harder Eritrean front (similarity 0.80)
Broader Connections
- Russian and Cuban reinforcements turned the Ogaden offensive into stalemate
#corroborates(0.90) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 569 - A Cuban-armoured Ethiopian offensive took Jigjiga from an unexpected direction
#expands(0.70) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 571 - Somali-allied rebels nearly seized Harar but Ethiopian defenses held
#complicates(0.60) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 569 - Ethiopia’s Soviet-Cuban campaign shifted from the Ogaden to a harder Eritrean front
#expands(0.50) — I.M. Lewis, I. M. Lewis, A Modern History of the Somali_ Nation…, 575