Ethiopian federal forces and the Tigray Peace Force militia have reportedly expanded their territorial control across Tigray, with claims of entering the historic city of Aksum. The TPF, a pro-government militia group, stated that Eritrean forces have pulled back toward the border after sustaining substantial losses during recent fighting. However, Eritrea’s Information Minister denied these allegations as fabricated, and independent verification of casualty figures remains unavailable.
According to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, an independent monitoring organization, Ethiopian government troops and TPF fighters have moved into Aksum while rival Tigrayan forces remain positioned in elevated terrain nearby. ACLED also confirmed Eritrean forces crossing back over the border at Zalambessa following Ethiopian advances into multiple strategically significant towns. Residents of affected areas reported that while active combat has ceased in some locations, civilians face severe shortages of basic services including electricity and water.
Documentation by ACLED indicates Ethiopian military assets, including tanks and heavy weaponry, have moved toward the Eritrean border, prompting international concerns about potential escalation between the two neighboring nations. Ethiopian authorities have asserted that Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt are providing support to a rebel coalition of seven groups opposing the government. Both Eritrea and the other accused nations have rejected these claims. Eritrea cut diplomatic relations with Ethiopia earlier this month following these accusations.
The federal government’s forces captured Tigray’s regional capital Mekelle and retook additional towns including Adwa and Adigrat from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front without sustained resistance. The TPLF announced it had departed Mekelle and relocated its regional administration to an undisclosed location. The United States has urged de-escalation, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio telephoning Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy to stress that the region cannot sustain additional conflict.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI