Tigrayan Separatists Took Control of Airport in Mekelle; Regional Authority Declares 'Defensive War'

Local residents reported that separatist forces from the Tigray region took control of the airport in Mekelle city in northern Ethiopia, as the regional authority announces entry into a defensive war against the federal government, while recent aerial strikes in the area have claimed dozens of deaths and wounded.

Separatist forces from the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia took control today (Wednesday) of the main airport in the regional capital city Mekelle, according to local residents. According to the report, the regional authority in Tigray announced that its fighters have entered a defensive war against federal government forces, a move that raises heavy concern over renewal of civil war in the country. Following the incidents, Ethiopian Airlines announced suspension of all flights to Mekelle and to cities of Dire and Aksum, due to the situation in the region.

The prime minister's advisor of Ethiopia Abi Ahmed claimed that forces of the People's Front for the Liberation of Tigray (TPLF) launched a broad attack against government forces also in neighboring Amhara and Afar districts. According to the report, the escalation came following a series of drone and fighter jet strikes, with authorities in Tigray reporting that at least 14 people were killed and 22 more wounded yesterday in a strike on Alamata city in the south of the region. Mogus Shifrow, mayor of Alamata city, said more than five drones and one fighter jet carried out more than 21 strikes starting from 03:30 in the morning.

Shifrow said that 'this caused great psychological trauma in our city,' and added that 'our people were in a state of panic.' According to him, all those killed and wounded are civilians, and he accused federal forces of hitting two high schools, while the government in Addis Ababa has yet to formally respond to the accusations. According to the report, the U.S. State Department condemned a separate drone strike that occurred on Monday, aimed at a convoy of Catholic vehicles that carried food aid. On Wednesday, authorities in Tigray accused Addis Ababa of launching an open invasion against the people of the region, and called on the public to support regional forces and maintain unity.

In contrast, Prime Minister Ahmed accused the TPLF in July of preparations for renewed confrontation, and before general elections in May regional forces restored the administration that preceded the war and dissolved the interim administration appointed by Ahmed. Tigray's war ended in November 2022, but now both sides accuse each other of violating the peace agreement signed with the mediation of the African Union. According to estimates, the previous confrontation was one of the deadliest in the present century and claimed about 600,000 lives, while fighting pushed the region to the brink of famine. Last Sunday the TPLF forces announced an alliance with six additional armed organizations in Ethiopia aimed at toppling the government.