Post-2000 conflicts: Agreements: Aspects: On 6 May 1998,Ethiopia launched an offensive into neighbouring Eritrea, marking the beginning of the Eritrean–Ethiopian War.

On 5 June 1998, the Eritrean airforce attacked an elementary school in Mekelle that killed 49 of the students and their parents and the neighbors that came to help immediately.

President Isaias Afwerki said that the withdrawal of troops from the occupied territories "seems morally unacceptable and physically impossible".

[1] The United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 1177 condemning the use of force and welcomed statements from both sides to end the air strikes.

In 2005, the Claims Commission – that was set up as part of the peace agreement – said that settling such disputes by use of force could not be considered self-defence.