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 responded with brutal force, slaughtering Afars indiscriminately, including both innocent and guilty. Meanwhile, Ras Alimirah and his son were aware of the situation in Ethiopia and had prepared a countermeasure by secretly sending students to Somalia for training in guerrilla warfare.