Addis Ababa: A progovernment militia in Ethiopia's Tigray region has claimed it has taken control of the main airport serving the regional capital Mekelle, in the latest sign of a rapidly changing military situation in northern Ethiopia.
The Tigray Peace Forces said on Friday that they had taken full control of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport and were carrying out operations in Mekelle. The claim could not be independently verified, and it remained unclear how much of the airport or the surrounding area was under the group's control.
The development comes as Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters advance towards Mekelle following more than a week of heavy fighting between forces aligned with the federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, or TPLF.
The renewed conflict began on September 23 after tensions between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF escalated into open fighting. The latest violence is the most serious escalation in Tigray since the 2020 to 2022 civil war, which ended with the Pretoria agreement in November 2022.
Earlier in the latest fighting, Tigrayan forces seized control of the airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire. The airports are important access points for major population centres across Tigray.
The situation has since changed as federal forces and allied militias launched a counteroffensive. Ethiopian forces have been reported to be advancing towards Mekelle, with fighting taking place around the regional capital.
On October 2, the Tigray Peace Forces said they had captured Milazat, a location about 20 kilometres from Mekelle. The government side has reported military advances in the area, although details of territorial control remain difficult to verify independently because communications have been disrupted and access to affected areas is limited.
The latest airport claim could mark an important change in the military situation if confirmed. However, control of the airport does not necessarily mean that government forces have taken full control of Mekelle.
The Tigray Peace Forces said their forces were carrying out operations in the city, but there has been no independent confirmation that Mekelle itself has come under full government control. The position of TPLF forces inside and around the city also remains unclear.
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael has said his forces would counterattack, indicating that the fighting could continue despite the reported government advances.
The renewed violence is raising fears that the conflict could spread beyond Tigray. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting an opposition alliance led by the TPLF. The countries have denied the allegations.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated sharply during the latest crisis. Ethiopia announced on October 1 that it was closing its embassy in Asmara and ordering 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours. Eritrea subsequently severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia and closed its embassy in Addis Ababa.
The developments have added to concerns about a wider regional crisis involving several countries in the Horn of Africa.
The renewed fighting is also disrupting daily life in Tigray, with communications, banking and other essential services affected. Shortages of cash and fuel have added to pressure on residents, while insecurity and road closures have made it more difficult for humanitarian organisations to operate.
The United Nations has warned that the fighting is creating new risks for civilians and humanitarian operations. It has called for maximum restraint, protection of civilians and unrestricted humanitarian access. UN officials have also urged the parties to return to dialogue.
The African Union has similarly called for immediate de escalation and renewed dialogue under the Pretoria agreement, which ended the major Tigray war in 2022.
The current fighting has placed the fragile peace achieved after that agreement under serious strain.
For now, the exact military situation around Mekelle remains uncertain. The claim that pro government forces have retaken the airport still requires independent confirmation, while the extent of government control over Mekelle and the wider Tigray region remains unclear.