Eritrean Troops Advance into Ethiopia's Tigray Region Amid Renewed Fighting
Residents report Eritrean soldiers moving south towards areas of recent conflict, raising concerns due to past involvement in the civil war.
Eritrean soldiers have entered Ethiopia's northern Tigray region and are advancing towards areas where clashes have recently occurred between Ethiopian national army troops and regional forces, according to residents in the Tigrayan town of Adigrat.
The movement of Eritrean troops follows two weeks of renewed fighting in the region, which erupted after months of tension between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Both sides have accused each other of violating a peace deal signed in November 2022 that ended a brutal two-year civil war.
Eritrea, which was a key ally of Ethiopia against the TPLF during the civil war, has been accused by Ethiopia of backing the TPLF in the current unrest, an accusation Asmara has previously denied. The latest hostilities emerged shortly after the TPLF announced a new alliance with other armed groups in Ethiopia in September.
Earlier in the week, TPLF forces reportedly withdrew from Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, which is now under the control of the Ethiopian army. Mekelle is located approximately 115 kilometers (71 miles) south of Adigrat.
Reports from Adigrat indicate that Eritrean military convoys have been seen moving south, passing through the town and heading towards Edaga Hamus, a town situated between Adigrat and Mekelle. One resident, who spoke anonymously for security reasons, told BBC Tigrinya they witnessed "about 40 trucks carrying soldiers" heading south. Another resident described seeing "20 to 30 large trucks heading toward Edaga Hamus," with some moving at night. Acquaintances traveling the route reported seeing additional vehicles carrying heavy weaponry, including anti-aircraft guns, and some troops moving on foot.
A source in Mekelle relayed accounts from relatives in Adigrat describing larger troop movements, estimating up to 60 trucks carrying soldiers who were subsequently deployed in mountainous terrain near Edaga Hamus. Images circulating on social media, though not independently verified by the BBC, appear to show military trucks with uniformed personnel heading towards Adigrat, Edaga Hamus, and potentially Wukro, another significant town on the route between Adigrat and Mekelle.
Sources in Wukro reported that national army soldiers and allied fighters entered the town on Wednesday following an exchange of heavy weapons approximately 15 kilometers south of the town. The BBC has not yet been able to independently verify these reported troop movements.
The reported return of Eritrean forces has caused significant anxiety among Tigray residents, who recall alleged atrocities committed by Eritrean soldiers during the 2020-2022 civil war. One resident of Adigrat described the sight of Eritrean soldiers as "emotionally distressing," with "memories still fresh" and people feeling "saddened to see them back again."
A resident of Edaga Hamus also reported Eritrean troops passing through, along with drone strikes occurring nearby that targeted soldiers. In a recent interview with Fana Television, senior Ethiopian government official Abraham Belay asserted Eritrea's "full capacity and logistics" involvement in the conflict, stating that "many Eritrean soldiers have been killed and captured." He added that retaliation would be "double" and warned Eritrea against fighting alongside what he termed "bandits."
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been strained since the end of the civil war, reportedly due to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ambition to gain access to Eritrean ports on the Red Sea. Last week, the two countries severed diplomatic ties, intensifying fears of a wider regional conflict.