In brief
Eritrean forces have crossed into northern Ethiopia and are advancing toward key towns in Tigray, according to residents and local sources. The movement follows recent clashes between Ethiopia’s national army and Tigray’s TPLF, which erupted two weeks ago after a 2022 ceasefire was allegedly breached. Tigrayan civilians report seeing dozens of convoy trucks carrying soldiers, some armed with heavy weapons, stirring memories of the earlier 2020‑2022 war. Ethiopian officials accuse Eritrea of direct participation and warn of retaliation, while diplomatic ties between the neighbours have been severed. The situation remains tense as the region braces for potential escalation.
Eritrean soldiers have crossed the border into northern Ethiopia, moving toward Adigrat and the town of Edaga Hamus, residents told the BBC. The troops come amid fresh clashes between Ethiopia’s national army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which broke out two weeks after a 2022 cease‑fire was alleged to have been violated.
Local civilians report seeing large convoy trucks—some with Eritrean plates—passing through Adigrat on the way to Edaga Hamus. One eyewitness noted the movement of 40 to 60 trucks, many carrying uniformed soldiers, with additional vehicles carrying anti‑aircraft guns. Reports also mention soldiers moving on foot through mountainous terrain near Edaga Hamus.
Eritrea, once a key ally in the 2020‑2022 war that devastated the region, now has diplomatic relations severed with Ethiopia after the renewed fighting. Ethiopian officials blame Eritrea for directly supporting the TPLF and warn of a double retaliation if the conflict escalates.
The return of Eritrean troops has triggered emotional distress among Tigrayan residents, many of whom still mourn the atrocities committed during the earlier civil war. The situation remains dynamic, with the Ethiopian national army consolidating control over Mekelle and the regional capital, while the conflict continues to pose a risk to broader regional stability.
