Ethiopia's military has confirmed that it repelled attacks from Tigrayan forces and their allies in the north of the country. This is the army's first statement since fighting broke out on Wednesday. According to the army, hostilities began in an area of Amhara region close to the border with Tigray. The military claims its soldiers inflicted heavy casualties and seized weapons during the clashes.
The latest escalation in tensions between the federal government and Tigrayan leaders has raised fears of a devastating civil war resuming. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominates the region, seized control of three airports from federal police on Wednesday. The TPLF has not commented on the army's claims, and the BBC is currently unable to report from Tigray and surrounding areas.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that TPLF forces have launched attacks in the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara. A humanitarian source in Afar told AFP news agency that Tigrayan forces had launched heavy artillery attacks as they attempted to take control of the town of Yallo, near the border with Tigray. The source's claims could not be independently verified.
The TPLF vice-president, Amanuel Assefa, was quoted by AFP as saying that the region is now in a situation of "full-blown war". This latest development follows months of rising tensions between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and Tigray authorities, who fought a devastating war from 2020 to 2022. The conflict resulted in significant loss of life and drove the region to the brink of famine.
The African Union-brokered peace deal that ended the war has been repeatedly violated by both sides in recent months. On Sunday, the TPLF announced an alliance with six other armed groups to oust the government. This move has further escalated tensions in the region. Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tigray following the seizure of the airports.
Residents of Tigray's main city, Mekelle, have reported that local forces have taken control of the city's airport from the national police. There have been reports of drone strikes in Tigray in recent days, but a Mekelle resident told the BBC that there had been no clashes in the city. The resident, identified as Fitsum, said that the city was calm but that people were stressed due to economic difficulties.
Fitsum stated that the biggest problem facing residents was a lack of cash, as people had been relying on mobile banking but with the risk of communications being cut off. He added that people were limiting their movements and that the city was quiet, with a de facto curfew in place. The situation in Tigray remains uncertain, with concerns growing about the potential for further conflict and humanitarian crisis.
Key points
- The Ethiopian army has repelled attacks from Tigrayan forces and their allies in parts of the north of the country.
- The TPLF has seized control of three airports from federal police, and there are unconfirmed reports of attacks in neighbouring regions.
- The escalation in tensions has raised fears of a resumption of civil war in Ethiopia.
