Gode

Gode is a city in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Located in the Shabelle Zone, the city was the capital of the Somali Region until 1995 when Jijiga became the capital Gode Airport, also known as the Ugas Mirad Airport (IATA code GDE), has regular flights operated by Ethiopian Airlines. A bridge over the Shebelle River was built near Gode in 1968. History Before the start of the Ogaden War, Gode was garrisoned by the 5th brigade of the 4th division of the Ethiopian Army, distributed around the town in five military camps. Gode's capture near the end of July 1977 by the Western Somali Liberation Front allowed the Somali forces to consolidate their hold on the Ogaden forces and concentrate on an advance that culminated in the capture of Jijiga. According to the historical notes of the Somali Army, Gode was liberated on July 24, 1977 by the regular Somali Army under the leadership of then General Abdullahi Ahmed Irro and his deputy Major Abdulkadir Koosaar. Somalia's 60th division forces under Colonel Irro consisted of the 2nd Armoured Brigade equipped with T-54 MBTs, infantry soldiers, as well as an artillery brigade with 36 artillery and a tank battalion equipped with T-34 MBTs.