Gabre Heard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

General Gabre Heard^[1] is the overall commander of all Ethiopian military forces in Somalia.

General Gabre has been criticized for the Ethiopian military's indiscriminate use of heavy weapons in civilian areas, and the use of these weapons in retribution attacks on areas where insurgent forces are suspected to be operating, following attacks on Ethiopian forces.

On February 22nd, Gabre reportedly slapped Transitional Federal Government President Abdullahi Yusuf twice across the face^[2] following a heated argument, according to Press TV, a media outlet funded by the Iranian government.

Gabre has been often described as the "true ruler" of Somalia, as the vast majority of military operations in Somalia are carried out by his forces, and the vast majority of military power in the country is controlled by him. This has perpetuated ARS, opposition and insurgent claims that the TFG is a puppet government under the thumb of Ethiopia.

Gabre has little to do with the TFG based in Baidoa, dealing mostly with his close allies in government: Mogadishu mayor and CIA-linked ex-ARPCT warlord Mohamed Omar Habeb, indicted war criminal, ex-ARPCT warlord and Mogadishu Police Chief Abdi Hasan Awale Qeybdiid and the TFG security agency head Mohamed Warsame Darwish.

[edit] References

v • d • e  War in Somalia (2006–present)
Background	Events	Key players
Military: Ethiopian-Somali conflict Insurgency in Ogaden Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa Somali Civil War (2006 period) Factions in the Somali Civil War Political: Anarchy in Somalia Greater Somalia Diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in the Somali Civil War Propaganda in the War in Somalia Disarmament in Somalia 2007 Somali National Reconciliation Conference	Timeline: 2006 Battle of Baidoa Battle of Bandiradley Battle of Beledweyne Ethiopian airstrikes Battle of Jowhar Fall of Mogadishu Battle of Jilib Timeline: 2007 Fall of Kismayo Battle of Ras Kamboni US airstrikes Battle of Mogadishu (March–April 2007) Bargal raid Battle of Mogadishu (November 2007) Timeline: 2008 Bosaso bombings Dobley airstrike Battle of Mogadishu (2008) Dhusamareb airstrike	Ethiopia Meles Zenawi Gabre Heard Islamic Courts Union Hassan Dahir Aweys Sharif Ahmed al-Itihaad al-Islamiya Hasan Hersi Hizbul Shabaab Mukhtar Robow Adan Ayrow ARPCT Abdi Hasan Awale Mohamed Omar Habeb Transitional Federal Parliament Ali Mohammed Ghedi Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed Puntland Mohamud Muse Hersi Galmudug Mohamed Warsame Ali  United States Jendayi Frazer AMISOM Yoweri Kaguta Museveni