Eritrean Forces Deploy in Northern Tigray Region of Northern Ethiopia

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Eritrean forces have spread in recent days around the city of Adigrat in the northern Tigray region, which is close to Eritrea, and it appears that Ethiopian forces are heading towards it, according to matching sources today, Wednesday, amid escalating war rhetoric exchanged between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

A local official and residents indicated the presence of Eritrean forces in Adigrat, which is about 40 kilometers south of the Eritrean border, explaining that some of these forces are heading south towards Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, which was taken over by Ethiopian federal forces and an allied militia from Tigray on Saturday without a fight, after the withdrawal of the Tigray People's Liberation Front rebels from it.

This comes amid fears of Ethiopia entering a regional conflict after federal forces took control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting Tigray fighters. For its part, Eritrea fears that Ethiopia may invade its territory to access water and control the port of Assab on the Red Sea.

Fighting between the Tigray People's Liberation Front and federal forces renewed on September 23, raising fears of a return to the devastating civil war that the country experienced between 2020 and 2022, and of the expansion of the conflict.

The recent clashes in northern Ethiopia began following attacks launched by the "Tigray People's Liberation Front" on the Afar and Amhara regions. The front had ousted the administration appointed by the federal government in the northern region in April.

Despite the federal forces taking control of Mekelle late last week after the withdrawal of the fighters from the "Tigray People's Liberation Front" without a fight, hostilities continue.

Federal forces entered Mekelle on Saturday without a fight, following the withdrawal of the rebel authorities and their fighters. The army was supported by the "Tigray Peace Force," a local militia formed by defectors from the Tigray Liberation Front who have now aligned themselves with the authority of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.