The Derg responded by devastating Asayita, and slaughtering innocent and guilty Afars indiscriminately. Despite this vicious response, Ras Alimirah and his son had been watching developments in Ethiopia, and had prepared accordingly by secretly sending a number of students to Somalia for training in guerrilla warfare.
The Derg retaliated by annihilating Asayita, and slaughtered Afars without distinction, both innocent and guilty. However, Ras Alimirah and his son had been monitoring developments in Ethiopia, and had taken proactive measures by secretly dispatching students to Somalia for training in guerrilla warfare.