Ethiopia’s federal army and pro-government fighters have recaptured Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region. Local sources reported that the rebels were seen leaving the city. The Ethiopian National Defence Forces regained control of the airport on Saturday, according to sources familiar with the situation and a humanitarian source who spoke to Reuters. The airport is located approximately 10 km (6 miles) from the center of Mekelle and was one of three airfields seized by rebel forces at the beginning of the fighting on September 23.
A local journalist and residents informed AFP that the fighters and leaders of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) were observed retreating from the city, although federal forces had not yet been seen inside Mekelle. One resident expressed concern that government and public property could be vulnerable to looting due to the absence of security forces, stating, "I am worried that lawlessness could spread in the city, and I am also afraid for my life. I want us to quickly return to law and order."
Media access in Ethiopia is currently heavily restricted, and there have been significant communications blackouts, making independent verification of claims difficult. Last month, the TPLF announced the formation of a seven-party rebel coalition, which includes various rebel groups from across the country. This coalition initiated an offensive, capturing three airports in Tigray and engaging in fighting along the borders with Amhara and Afar states.
The government is conducting a counteroffensive into Tigrayan territory along three axes towards Mekelle, according to the Critical Threats Project, part of the American Enterprise Institute. Fighting has primarily occurred in Tigray, although rebels have reportedly conducted drone attacks on Addis Ababa.
The TPLF and the government have not commented on the recent developments. The renewed conflict has involved drone attacks, forced conscription, and assaults on civilian infrastructure, as reported by Amnesty International. While the current fighting has not reached the scale of the Tigray war from 2020 to 2022, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, it is beginning to take on an international dimension.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting the opposition coalition, though Khartoum and Cairo have denied these allegations. Eritrea has cut diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in response to these accusations and has also denied involvement in the Tigray conflict, claiming that Ethiopia is pursuing an agenda of hostility. Eritrea accused Ethiopia of planning to invade to secure access to the Red Sea coast.
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael stated in a video published on Thursday that "the war is regional and it is a war to control the Red Sea." Ethiopia has previously ruled out seeking conflict with Eritrea over access to the coast.