ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopian government forces closed in on Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, on Friday as banks and shops shuttered across the city. Two residents told Reuters that pro-government forces were within 30 kilometers of the urban center. The Tigray Peace Forces militia claimed Thursday it had captured a town 75 kilometers south of Mekelle.
The advance followed combat that erupted a week earlier between federal troops and a rebel alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). This represents the worst violence since a civil war in the region ended in 2022, a conflict that killed hundreds of thousands.
Debretsion Gebremichael, the TPLF chairperson, acknowledged Thursday that federal forces had occupied parts of Tigray. He said his forces would "counter-attack in due course" and "ensure that Tigray is their graveyard, not their playground."
The military escalation coincided with a diplomatic rupture between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Ethiopia said Thursday it was closing its embassy in Eritrea and ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave within 48 hours, accusing Eritrea of "direct and indirect acts of hostility and belligerence." Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties.
The two nations fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 and had only restored relations in 2018. During Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war, Eritrea fought alongside the federal government against the TPLF. Relations deteriorated afterward, partly over Ethiopian statements about securing sea access for its economy and security.
Eritrea has expressed fear that Ethiopia intends to seize its Assab port by force. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said Ethiopia seeks sea access through peaceful negotiations.
On Thursday, Ethiopia's foreign ministry expelled an Egyptian diplomat. Cairo responded by expelling an Ethiopian diplomat. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance; all three have denied the allegations.
Suspected drone attacks on Addis Ababa earlier this week suggested the TPLF and allies possess greater strike capability than previously assessed.
Analysts warned the conflict could extend beyond Ethiopia's borders. Tigray shares a northern border with Eritrea and a western border with Sudan, which is in its own civil war now more than three years old.
