The current escalation follows the October 3 capture of Mekelle after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front withdrew its administration to the city of Adwa. The fighting, which includes an alliance of Tigray, Amhara Fano, and Oromo forces, has led Ethiopia to sever diplomatic ties with Eritrea over allegations of rebel support. These hostilities nullify the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended a previous war that killed an estimated 600,000 people.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
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Eritrea Deploys Troops to Halt Federal Advance Beyond Mekelle
War12 days ago
The Ethiopian National Defence Forces have extended their offensive toward operationally significant towns in the north and west of the Tigray region. This movement, combined with increased airstrikes, is reportedly prompting Eritrea to deploy military reinforcements into northern Ethiopia, though government incursions remain unconfirmed. In Mekelle, federal troops recently seized a warehouse containing dozens of Chinese GB-25 laser-guided munitions, US Mk 82 and Russian FAB GP bombs, R-60M/R-73 missiles, and Iranian Mohajer-6 drones. While markets in the city have reopened, residents report cash and grocery shortages.
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