In brief
Ethiopia has declared an "all‑out invasion" by Eritrean forces in its northern Tigray region and pledged to defend itself, following reports of troops crossing the border. The accusation comes as fighting between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has intensified, with both sides blaming each other for violating a 2022 cease‑fire. Ethiopia alleges Eritrea backs the TPLF, a charge Eritrea denies, and hints at diplomatic fallout over control of a Red‑Sea port. Drone strikes on Eritrean units in Adigrat were reported, raising fears of a wider regional war, though confirmed casualties remain unclear. The situation underscores a fragile peace and the ongoing rivalry between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Ethiopia’s foreign ministry has written to the UN Security Council demanding support after residents reported that Eritrean troops had entered the Tigray region. The letter describes the incursion as an "all‑out invasion" and calls it a "blatant act of aggression that engages Ethiopia’s inherent right to self‑defence”.
Eritrea’s Information Minister responded that the Ethiopian state is launching an unprovoked war of aggression against its neighbour, citing possible motives over the ownership of a strategic Red‑Sea port. Ethiopia maintains that Eritrean forces have advanced up to 60km (37 miles) into Tigray, a charge that Eritrea denies.
The conflict’s roots trace back to the two‑year civil war that ended in a 2022 peace deal, which both sides now accuse each other of breaching. Historically, Eritrea allied with Ethiopia against the TPLF, but relations soured after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s 2018 normalisation of ties. Diplomatic links were severed last week, worsening the bilateral standoff.
Drone attacks reportedly hit Eritrean troops in the Tigrayan town of Adigrat on Tuesday and Wednesday. A U.S.‑based conflict monitor, ACLED, confirmed that "multiple drone strikes" targeted Eritrean‑link ammunition caches overnight. Local witnesses filed reports of several lorries destroyed and Eritrean units reportedly retreating towards the north.
No verified casualty figures have emerged, and the BBC currently cannot report from Tigray. As tensions mount, the international community watches closely to see whether this flare‑up leads to a broader regional conflict.
