Ethiopian forces raid military posts in Eritrea

Ethiopian government spokesperson Shimeles Kemal speaks in Addis Ababa on March 15, 2012.Raid targets posts used in attacks against Ethiopia, official says The assault reignites tensions between the two nationsBoth severed diplomatic relations after a two-year war in 1998 Eritrea won its independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war

(CNN) — Ethiopian forces attacked military posts in neighboring Eritrea to target “subversive groups” it said operate within the country, reigniting tensions between the two archrivals.

The ground assault Thursday struck bases used to launch attacks aimed at destabilizing Ethiopia, said Shimeles Kemal, the Ethiopian government spokesman.

Such attacks are “organized, supported and financed by the Eritrean government,” he said at a news conference.

Eritrean government officials, including the foreign ministry, did not respond to CNN calls for comment.

The assault 16 kilometers (10 miles) into Eritrean territory reignites tensions between the two nations, which fought a two-year war from 1998 that left 80,000 dead. They have all but severed diplomatic relations since then.

The military incursion was partly in retaliation to Eritrea backing groups responsible for atrocities in Ethiopia, the spokesman said, including a January attack that killed five western tourists.

Two other Germans were kidnapped in the northern region attack blamed on the Ethiopian rebel group, the ARDUF, which the government accuses Eritrea of backing.

Kemal said Ethiopia prefers to settle disputes with its neighbor through peaceful dialogue, but stressed the nation will not ‘hesitate to take proportional retaliatory action” if Eritrea launches more attacks.

Eritrea won its independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year war. Prior to the war, it was classified as a province.

CNN’s Ashley Gallagher contributed to this report

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