Ethiopia's army has announced it repelled attacks from Tigrayan forces and their allies in northern parts of the country, marking its first statement since fighting began on Wednesday. The military stated that hostilities commenced in the Amhara region, near the border with Tigray, claiming its soldiers inflicted heavy casualties and captured weapons.
These developments follow a sharp escalation in tensions between the federal government and Tigrayan leaders, raising concerns about the potential resumption of a devastating civil war. On Wednesday, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) reportedly took control of three airports from federal police.
While the TPLF has not commented on the army's claims, there are unconfirmed reports of TPLF forces launching attacks in the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara. A humanitarian source in Afar told AFP news agency on Thursday that Tigrayan forces used heavy artillery in an attempt to seize the town of Yallo, near the Tigray border. TPLF vice-president Amanuel Assefa was quoted by the news agency as stating, "We are in the situation of full-blown war now."
This latest escalation comes after months of rising tensions between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and Tigray authorities, who previously fought a war from 2020 to 2022. That conflict, which an African Union mediator estimated caused around 600,000 deaths, ended with an AU-brokered peace deal, but both sides have recently accused each other of violating the agreement. On Sunday, the TPLF announced an alliance with six other armed groups with the aim of ousting the government.
Following the reported seizure of airports, Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tigray. Residents in Mekelle, Tigray's main city, told the BBC that local forces took control of the city's airport from national police early on Wednesday. A Mekelle resident, identified as Fitsum, stated on Thursday that there had been no clashes in the city itself, with most fighting occurring elsewhere, but noted economic difficulties and concerns over potential communication cuts.