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Ethiopian Forces Claim Recapture of Tigray Airport
Confirmed
In Short: Pro-government forces say they have retaken the main airport in Mekelle, Tigray's capital, from opposition fighters.
A militia group allied to Ethiopia’s federal government claims to have recaptured the main airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, a significant blow to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which launched a major offensive last week.
The TPLF, once the dominant party in Ethiopia, has been outlawed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government since 2018. The TPLF seized control of the airport earlier this month, leading to a suspension of flights.
Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have made rapid advances into Tigray, but analysts warn that the renewed fighting could escalate into a broader regional conflict.
Ethiopia has also expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara, accusing Eritrea of involvement in activities threatening Ethiopia’s national security.
Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, escalating tensions between the neighboring countries.
The TPLF-led alliance includes the Amhara Fano National Movement and the Oromo Liberation Army, both of which have fought federal forces in their respective regions.
Internet monitoring organization NetBlocks reported a significant disruption in northern Ethiopia’s telecommunications, corresponding with reports of a blackout in Tigray.
What this adds
The TPLF's control over the airport and the subsequent suspension of flights were previously reported.
The TPLF's long-standing dominance in Tigray and their expulsion of a government-appointed administration earlier this year are new details.
Background
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian federal government have accused each other of launching offensives, escalating fears of renewed conflict in the region.
What's confirmed
- A militia group allied to Ethiopia’s federal government said they had recaptured the main airport in the capital of the northern Tigray region, an opposition stronghold.
- The taking of Mekelle by pro-government forces would be a major setback for an opposition alliance led by the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which launched a big offensive last week against the Ethiopian military.
- Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have made a quick counterattack into Tigray, but analysts say the fighting — the worst escalation since a 2020-2022 civil war — threatens to widen into a wider regional conflict.
What's still developing
- Ethiopia on Thursday ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours and said it was closing its embassy in Eritrea, sharply raising tensions between the neighbours.
- Eritrea called the decision "astounding" and said it had "no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia with all the negative corollaries that this entails".
- Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry said the Eritrean diplomats were being expelled for their "involvement in activities that pose a direct threat to Ethiopia's national security".
- People displaced by the 2020 war in Tigray said the new fighting was bringing fresh hardship.
- Residents of the Hitsats camp in northwestern Tigray, home to about 16,000 people who have been living there for six years, said they could hear gunfire from kilometres away on Thursday and feared they could be displaced again.
- The move came hours after blasts were heard in parts of Addis Ababa and as fighting continued in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region.
- Tigray rebels were abandoning their regional capital in northern Ethiopia on Saturday, a local journalist and residents told AFP, as pro-government forces advanced on the city.
- Fighting erupted on September 23 in northern Ethiopia as the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks into neighbouring states, raising fears of a return to the devastating 2020-2022 civil war.
- But federal forces and pro-government militias have pushed them back in recent days and were heading north towards the regional capital, Mekelle.
- The conflict has triggered a breakdown in Ethiopia's relations with Eritrea and Egypt, who it accuses of supporting the rebels.
- The 2022 peace agreement, signed in Pretoria, South Africa, ended the war between the federal government and Tigray’s forces but left disputes over disarmament and the TPLF’s legal status unresolved.
- Former adversaries say they will settle differences as fears grow of expanding war in Ethiopia.
Sources
- Reuterslink
- Arabnewslink
- The Jerusalem Postlink
- Indiatodaylink
- AFPlink
- Al Jazeeralink
- Eastleighvoicelink
- Kulu-Medialink
- Pillarcatholiclink
- BBClink
- Tamilguardianlink
- Theconversationlink
- Timesofisraellink
- Aleteialink
- WarpBeat — background on Ethiopia and Tigray Accuse Each Other of New Offensives link
- WION — video link