In the recent clashes, Ethiopian fighter jets have bombarded two of the major airports at Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. It’s a big blow to the Islamic forces and they’ve lost the ground and are on the retreat. The terrorists of the notorious Somali Council of Islamic Courts (SCIC) used the airports as stores of heavy weapons and ammunition.

Somalia’s Islamist leaders are losing battle with the forces led by the country’s internationally recognized transitional government. Now when Ethiopia too has jumped into the ring, it seems that the Islamic militia would soon be routed, however, peace remains a far cry.

Although, militants from neighboring countries, including Eritreans, Libyans, Syrians and Yemenis fully back the Islamists, Ethiopian forces have almost sealed the borders of Somalia and there is little possibility that foreign fighters could come in.

Abdirizak Adam Hassan, chief of staff for President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, seems too jubilant of the outcome of the conflict. He said, “We’re going to eradicate the enemy, we’re going to appoint administrators and we’re going to rule nationwide.”

Agonizing situation

As expected, Ethiopia has entered the war, with an excuse that Islamists have endangered their security, and amidst these attacks and counterattacks, it would be hard to predict the exact outcome of it. The future of thousands of natives is in doldrums; people are forced to shun their home and farms, and there empty stomachs could possibly force them to take up arms.

Ethiopia’s expectations that they would be able to force the Islamists on the negotiation table doesn’t seem feasible at this point of time when the militants are recruiting more and more in Mosques and have vowed to kill all prisoners of war too. Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, leader of the Council of Islamic Courts’ executive body, said, ‘The war is entering a new phase. We will fight Ethiopia for a long, long time and we expect the war to go everyplace.’

Possible repercussions and another Islam war group against the west in the making

Until now, western diplomats have been quite busy in lashing on the Islamic forces, however, sadly failed to garner their support and convince them to talk. Even, UN watchdogs are simply lashing their tails rather then taking any concrete action. Expecting peace from SCIC would be wrong at this point of time and they’d make all efforts to escalate war and expand its realm dragging Ethiopia into the guerilla war, perhaps, we can anticipate suicide bombs rocking Addis Ababa soon. Moreover, although Ethiopia has the strongest military force in the region, guerilla war demands loads of tactics. Even many Somalis question the involvement of Ethiopia, with which they already had two wars, in the conflict.

The conflict would certainly engulf the whole region opening ‘a third front, after Afghanistan and Iraq, in militant Islam’s war against the West.’ Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi too is considered a shrewd leader who’s making all efforts to win support of the United States. Ethiopia is all set to face similar problems as the US is facing in Iraq. The US could have played a constructive role in bring truce amongst warring factions, however, now it seems too late, especially, the time when the leaders should be focusing to eradicate poverty and hunger, they’ve chosen arms.

Via: IHT