Ethiopian Forces Advance in Tigray, Claim Eritrean Retreat Amidst Border Tensions

Ethiopian forces and allied fighters report an expansion of their control across the Tigray region, including entry into the historic city of Aksum. Concurrently, the pro-government militia, the Tigray Peace Force (TPF), claimed on Thursday that troops from neighboring Eritrea have retreated towards the border, with spokesperson Solomon Hailemariam asserting significant casualties sustained by Eritrean forces. However, Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel has refuted these claims as false, and the extent of any reported losses remains unverified by independent sources.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), an independent conflict-monitoring organization, has documented Ethiopian government forces and TPF fighters entering Aksum, while rival Tigrayan fighters have reportedly remained in surrounding mountainous areas. ACLED also reported Eritrean troops withdrawing across the border through Zalambessa, following advances by Ethiopian forces and their allies into several strategic towns. A resident of Zalambessa, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told the AFP news agency on Thursday that Ethiopian troops were on one side and Eritrean troops on the other, with no active fighting but a week-long absence of power and water, leaving residents in a state of anxiety.

Concerns about a potential confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been heightened by ACLED’s documentation of Ethiopian tanks and heavy weapons moving towards the Eritrean border on Tuesday. Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea, along with Sudan and Egypt, of supporting a rebel alliance fighting the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Eritrea has denied these accusations, countering that Ethiopia threatens its sovereignty. Notably, Eritrea, which previously fought alongside Ethiopia’s federal army in the 2020-2022 war, severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia earlier this month over these accusations. Khartoum and Cairo have also denied any involvement in the conflict.

The TPF is aligned with Ethiopia’s federal government in its campaign against Tigrayan rebels associated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Ethiopian forces had previously captured Tigray’s regional capital, Mekelle, earlier this month, with the TPLF confirming its withdrawal from the city and the temporary relocation of its regional administration. Government forces also retook the towns of Adwa and Adigrat from the TPLF without resistance. Reports also indicate Ethiopian advances in the town of Rama, situated near the Eritrean border.

Following reports of the alleged confrontation between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for de-escalation in a phone conversation with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy on Wednesday, stating that the region cannot endure further conflict, according to a statement from the US Department of State.