MEKELLE: Ethiopian government forces and allied fighters have recaptured the main airport in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, after more than a week of intense fighting, in the most serious escalation since the 2020-2022 civil war.
Ethiopian troops regained control of Alula Aba Nega Airport, about 10 km east of the city centre, sources with knowledge of events in the city told Reuters. The airfield was one of three regional airports seized by rebel forces when fighting broke out on September 23.
TPLF fighters reportedly leaving the capital
A Mekelle resident confirmed that government forces had retaken the airport, adding that gunfire could be heard outside the city centre. The resident said some fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) were abandoning their posts and heading home, while looting of government facilities was taking place in the city. A local journalist told the AFP news agency that "TPLF militants and leaders are leaving Mekelle."
The pro-government Tigray Peace Force, a militia of Tigrayan fighters aligned with the federal government, had claimed on Friday that it had taken full control of the airport. Reuters said it could not independently verify the militia's assertion, and the Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The TPLF could not immediately be reached.
Fighting spreads across fronts
The fighting erupted last week between the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF and its allies, shattering the fragile Pretoria Agreement, the peace deal signed in November 2022.
The conflict has spread across several fronts in the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions. The Tigray Peace Force said it had captured the town of Alamata, a key supply hub near Tigray's southern border with Amhara. In Afar, the offensive could threaten supply routes from Djibouti, through which most Ethiopian imports, including fuel, pass.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing armed groups opposed to its government — a charge Asmara rejected. On Thursday, Eritrea severed all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, accusing Addis Ababa of "incessant hostility." The Ethiopian military said about 270 Tigrayan fighters had been killed and more than 200 wounded in fighting around North Wollo in Amhara. An explosion at the Ministry of Defence in Addis Ababa early on Thursday marked the first apparent spill of the conflict into the capital.
Humanitarian toll mounts
At least 52 civilians have been killed in the fighting, and Doctors Without Borders reported a surge in the number of wounded in the north. Amnesty International said Friday it had received "credible reports of destruction of civilian objects through shelling and air strikes, intensified forced conscription, and other acts that may constitute violations of international humanitarian law," urging the African Union to convene an emergency session.
Analysts fear the conflict could widen into a regional war, with risks already playing out in Eritrea's backing of rebel groups and the potential for involvement of Sudan and others.
Sources: Al Jazeera | Reuters
Ethiopian troops regained control of Alula Aba Nega Airport, about 10 km east of the city centre, sources with knowledge of events in the city told Reuters. The airfield was one of three regional airports seized by rebel forces when fighting broke out on September 23.
TPLF fighters reportedly leaving the capital
A Mekelle resident confirmed that government forces had retaken the airport, adding that gunfire could be heard outside the city centre. The resident said some fighters from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) were abandoning their posts and heading home, while looting of government facilities was taking place in the city. A local journalist told the AFP news agency that "TPLF militants and leaders are leaving Mekelle."
The pro-government Tigray Peace Force, a militia of Tigrayan fighters aligned with the federal government, had claimed on Friday that it had taken full control of the airport. Reuters said it could not independently verify the militia's assertion, and the Prime Minister's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The TPLF could not immediately be reached.
Fighting spreads across fronts
The fighting erupted last week between the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF and its allies, shattering the fragile Pretoria Agreement, the peace deal signed in November 2022.
The conflict has spread across several fronts in the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions. The Tigray Peace Force said it had captured the town of Alamata, a key supply hub near Tigray's southern border with Amhara. In Afar, the offensive could threaten supply routes from Djibouti, through which most Ethiopian imports, including fuel, pass.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing armed groups opposed to its government — a charge Asmara rejected. On Thursday, Eritrea severed all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, accusing Addis Ababa of "incessant hostility." The Ethiopian military said about 270 Tigrayan fighters had been killed and more than 200 wounded in fighting around North Wollo in Amhara. An explosion at the Ministry of Defence in Addis Ababa early on Thursday marked the first apparent spill of the conflict into the capital.
Humanitarian toll mounts
At least 52 civilians have been killed in the fighting, and Doctors Without Borders reported a surge in the number of wounded in the north. Amnesty International said Friday it had received "credible reports of destruction of civilian objects through shelling and air strikes, intensified forced conscription, and other acts that may constitute violations of international humanitarian law," urging the African Union to convene an emergency session.
Analysts fear the conflict could widen into a regional war, with risks already playing out in Eritrea's backing of rebel groups and the potential for involvement of Sudan and others.
Sources: Al Jazeera | Reuters
