1988 Hargeisa-Burao offensive

1988 Hargeisa Burao offensive
	Part of the Somaliland War of Independence
Date	27 May 1988 – 1 June 1988
Location	Hargeisa and Burao, northern Somalia (now Somaliland)
Result	SNM victory SNM captures Hargeisa (excluding Hargeisa Airport), Burao, Dhoqoshay, Adadley, Masaajidka, Debis, Werarta, Abdaal, Sheikh Omar, Adrosh, Samatar Ahmed and Hagal.; Significant increase of manpower for the SNM; Escalation of the Isaaq genocide;
Belligerents
Somali National Movement	Somali Democratic Republic
Commanders and leaders
Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud (Siilaanyo); Ahmed Mire; Hussein Dheere; Ibrahim Dhegaweyne	Siad Barre; Mohammed Said Hersi Morgan
Strength
5,700; 84 armed vehicles	100 armed vehicles, ; two aircraft
Casualties and losses
90 killed	300+ killed, ; two aircraft destroyed

The 1988 Hargeisa Burao offensive (Somali: Gudo-galkii Hargeysa iyo Burco) was a major offensive conducted during the Somaliland War of Independence in May 1988 by the Somali National Movement on the cities of Hargeisa and Burao, then the second and third largest cities of Somalia. The SNM captured Burao on 27 May within two hours, while the SNM entered Hargeisa on 29 May, overrunning most of the city apart from its airport by 1 June. During the offensive the Somali National Army committed gross human rights violations, including attacking the civilian population using heavy artillery and tanks.