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Eritrean Troops Reported in Two Tigray Towns as Ethiopia–Eritrea Tensions Rise
Reports that Eritrean troops entered two towns in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have heightened fears that renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia could draw the neighbouring countries into direct conflict.
A commander with the Tigray Peace Force, an Ethiopia government-aligned force, told the Associated Press that Eritrean personnel entered Adigrat on Tuesday and Idaga Hamus on Wednesday. He said Eritrean officers and commanders were conducting surveillance in Idaga Hamus, citing information from his personnel in the area.
Separately, Reuters reported that two Adigrat residents said they saw trucks carrying dozens of Eritrean soldiers drive through the town on Wednesday. The outlet also cited an analyst with the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project (ACLED), who said Eritrean troops crossed the border at Zelambesa and that Ethiopian military drones struck vehicles carrying them near Guada as they moved south.
The reports have not been independently verified by the Associated Press. Eritrea’s information minister denied that Eritrean forces were in Adigrat, describing the accounts as an attempt by Ethiopia to justify a possible war. In a separate statement reported by AP, he did not explicitly confirm or deny whether troops had crossed the border. Ethiopian federal officials did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
The reported movements come amid renewed fighting between Ethiopian government forces and an opposition alliance that includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The latest clashes have weakened the November 2022 peace agreement that ended a two-year war in Tigray. Eritrea has denied Ethiopia’s accusation that it supports the opposition alliance.
Relations between the neighbours have deteriorated further: Eritrea announced on October 1 that it was severing diplomatic ties with Ethiopia. The United States has urged both governments to exercise restraint, Reuters reported. With tensions rising and the reported troop movements disputed, the situation remains volatile; further confirmation and responses from both governments will be important in assessing whether the conflict is expanding across the border.
