Ethiopia's government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have accused each other of launching offensives, fuelling fears of a return to full-scale conflict. The accusations come after reports of drone strikes in Tigray and the seizure of Tigray's airports by local authorities. Getachew Reda, adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said Tigrayan fighters had taken control of federally administered airports in Tigray and launched offensives in neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.
The TPLF announced an alliance with six other armed groups in Ethiopia to remove the government in Addis Ababa. Getachew Reda stated that the TPLF leadership launched an all-out offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara. The adviser previously led Tigray's interim administration but fell out with the TPLF in 2025 and joined the federal government. Following the seizure of the airports, Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tigray.
Residents of Tigray's main city, Mekelle, reported that local forces had taken over control of the city's airport from the national police. This followed reports of drone strikes in Tigray in recent days. On Tuesday, a strike in the southern town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to the Tigrayan authorities. The town's mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, reported that more than five drones and one fighter jet carried out over 21 strikes.
The mayor of Alamata accused federal forces of targeting two secondary schools, which they believed were being used by Tigrayan forces. However, the mayor stated that the schools, which had served as federal military bases during the civil war, were unoccupied as the academic year had not yet begun. The BBC has not independently verified the allegations, and the government has not commented on the alleged strikes.
On Wednesday, the Tigray authorities accused Addis Ababa of launching an "open invasion" of the region, urging people to support the regional forces and maintain unity. They further accused the government of violating international humanitarian and human rights laws, stating that public services and critical infrastructure had been disrupted.
The US State Department's Bureau of African Affairs condemned a separate drone strike that targeted a convoy of Catholic vehicles carrying food aid. They called for an investigation and urged all parties to resolve their differences through dialogue and take steps to prevent similar incidents. Both Addis Ababa and TPLF leaders have faced criticism over delays in implementing key provisions of the Pretoria Agreement.
The Pretoria Agreement, an AU-brokered deal, formally ended the conflict in November 2022. However, both sides have been accusing each other of violating the peace deal in recent months. In July, Prime Minister Abiy accused the TPLF of preparing for renewed conflict during an address to parliament. The TPLF restored its pre-war administration in May, disbanding an interim one appointed by Abiy.
Key points
- The conflict in Tigray has resulted in significant humanitarian crises, with an estimated 600,000 people killed and the region driven to the precipice of famine.
- The TPLF has formed an alliance with six other armed groups in Ethiopia to remove the government in Addis Ababa.
- The US State Department has called for an investigation into a drone strike targeting a convoy of Catholic vehicles carrying food aid.
