Key facts
- The Tigray regional government announced Wednesday that its fighters have entered a defensive war against federal troops.
- Tigrayan forces seized the main airport in the northern region.
- The federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have blamed each other for renewed hostilities.
- TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda stated the rebels were fighting a defensive war but remained open to negotiations.
- Tigrayan forces pushed into Amhara and Afar regions, fighting alongside local armed groups.
- Approximately 18,000 people have been displaced by recent fighting in Afar.
NAIROBI, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Ethiopia's Tigray regional government announced Wednesday that its fighters have entered a defensive war against federal troops, hours after Tigrayan forces seized the main airport in the northern region. The renewed combat has shattered a truce announced in late March and jeopardizes international efforts to end the nearly 22-month conflict.
According to a statement from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), spokesman Getachew Reda said the rebels were fighting a defensive war but remained open to negotiations. He also stated that the TPLF had defended its positions and was launching a counter-offensive, pushing deeper into the Amhara region. Residents, diplomatic, and humanitarian sources have reported TPLF fighters advancing about 50 kilometers south from Tigray into Amhara and southeast into Afar, causing many people to flee.
Access to northern Ethiopia is restricted, making independent verification difficult. The Ethiopian government's Communication Service stated that the federal government remains committed to a peaceful resolution, blaming the TPLF for initiating the conflict. A local NGO in Afar reported approximately 18,000 people displaced by the recent fighting, with roads clogged with fleeing residents.