Reports indicate that Ethiopian government forces have made advances against a northern rebel group in Tigray. Renewed fighting has raised concerns about the potential for the conflict to escalate into the wider region.
Ethiopian government forces announced they have recaptured Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, which was seized by rebel groups last week. This marks the worst outbreak of violence in the region since the civil war ended in 2022.
Several news agencies cited anonymous government sources on Saturday stating that federal forces now control the airport. An Ethiopian general confirmed to the Associated Press, on condition of anonymity, that the military is in full control of the airport.
The AFP news agency reported, citing a humanitarian source, that rebel groups were leaving Mekelle as government forces advanced. However, neither side has issued an official statement regarding control of the city, and reporting is complicated by communication blackouts and restricted media access.
The withdrawal from Mekelle would be a setback for the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which recently aligned with other armed opposition groups in northern Ethiopia. The TPLF has been the dominant force in Tigray since ousting a government-appointed administration earlier this year, appointing former wartime regional leader Debretsion Gebremichael as regional president.
The Ethiopian National Defense Force has been engaged in combat against a renewed rebel offensive since late September. The TPLF had seized the airport in Mekelle on September 23 and launched attacks on government positions in the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara, initially making gains before being pushed back this week.
Debretsion Gebremichael issued a statement on Thursday, vowing to continue guerrilla attacks on government forces, reminiscent of tactics used when rebels lost control of Mekelle in 2020. The TPLF, which ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, aims to topple Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The civil war from 2020 to 2022 resulted in over 600,000 deaths.
The renewed unrest in northern Ethiopia has raised concerns about regional tensions, particularly in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia has accused its northern neighbor Eritrea of supporting Tigray rebels, alongside Sudan and Egypt, all of which deny these allegations.
Last week, Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties, expelling diplomats and closing embassies. The African Union expressed concern over the escalating tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt, urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint. Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of planning to invade and seize access to the Red Sea.
In a video message, Debretsion stated, "the war is regional and it is a war to control the Red Sea."