The local authorities reportedly seize Tigray's airports following reports of recent drone strikes.
By Nexvoro Tech Wire
PUBLISHED WED, SEP 23, 2026 4:09 PM UTC • 6 MIN READ
Primary Journalistic Dispatch & Direct Reporting
Ethiopia's government and the party in control of the northern region of Tigray have accused each other of launching offensives, escalating fears of a return to full-scale conflict.
Getachew Reda, a cabinet minister and adviser to Ethiopia's prime minister, said Tigrayan fighters had taken control of federally administered airports in Tigray and launched offensives in neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.
Earlier, the Tigrayan authorities said their forces had been forced to enter a "defensive war". The statement followed reports of drone strikes in Tigray.
In-Depth Developments & Factual Context
The two-year war in Tigray ended in 2022 - but over recent months both sides have been accusing each other of violating a peace deal.
It was one of the most deadly conflicts this century - the African Union's mediator estimated some 600,000 people died as the fighting drove the region to the precipice of famine.
On Sunday, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that runs Tigray, announced an alliance with six other armed groups in Ethiopia to remove the government in Addis Ababa.
Industry Impact & Strategic Analysis
"It is rather heartbreaking to learn that, despite efforts by many, including the international community, to avoid yet another round of war in Tigray, the TPLF leadership early this morning launched an all-out offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara," Getachew said in a statement shared on social media.
The adviser to Prime Minster Abiy Ahmed previously led Tigray's interim administration, but he fell out with the TPLF in 2025 and joined the federal government.
Following the seizure of the airports, Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tigray.
Forward Outlook & Market Perspective
Residents of Tigray's main city of Mekelle told the BBC that local forces had taken over control of the city's airport from the national police early on Wednesday.
This followed reports of drone strikes in Tigray in recent days.
On Tuesday, a strike in the southern town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to the Tigrayan authorities.
The town's mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, told the BBC that more than five drones and one fighter jet had carried out more than 21 strikes starting at around 03:30.
"This caused a lot of psychological trauma in our city and our people were in a state of panic," he said.
Mogos said all those killed and injured were civilians, accusing federal forces of targeting two secondary schools.
Reporting synthesized and verified under Nexvoro.tech editorial guidelines. Full primary records referenced via BBC World.
Reporting synthesized under Nexvoro.tech Editorial Standards • Referenced via BBC World
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