Heavy fighting has been reported in northern Ethiopia as federal forces battled Tigray rebels in the Afar region, while an internet disruption was reported in parts of the north amid fears of a wider escalation.
A humanitarian source in Afar said Ethiopian forces fought overnight to repel an assault by Tigrayan fighters around Abala, a town in the mountains bordering Tigray.
“The federal forces pushed the rebels from entering the town,” the source said, adding that the army had used a drone during the fighting.
The renewed clashes follow a major escalation this week, after rebels in the northern Tigray region seized local airports and launched attacks into neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has described the renewed conflict as a “full-blown war” with the federal government.
The latest violence has raised fears of a repeat of the communications blackout and blockade that accompanied the previous Tigray conflict between 2020 and 2022, which killed an estimated 600,000 people.
Internet monitoring organisation NetBlocks reported “internet disruption in northern Ethiopia corresponding to reports of a telecoms blackout in Tigray”. Reports from the region could not be independently verified, while contact with local sources by telephone was difficult.
Heavy clashes were also reported on Thursday in North Wollo Zone of Amhara, including areas around Lalibela, home to Ethiopia’s renowned rock-hewn churches and UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Analysts said the TPLF appeared to be reviving elements of its strategy from the previous war by pushing south through Amhara towards the capital, Addis Ababa.
They said the offensive in Afar could also be aimed at disrupting supply routes from Djibouti, which handles the vast majority of Ethiopia’s international trade cargo, including fuel.
The TPLF has also formed an alliance with six other armed groups operating in different parts of Ethiopia in an effort to challenge the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
Edward Bach of consultancy firm Verisk Maplecroft told AFP that the alliance was likely seeking to capture settlements along key infrastructure routes to weaken the federal government’s ability to supply its forces.
The federal government, however, retains significant military advantages, including a large drone fleet and an army estimated at about 500,000 personnel. It also has support from external partners, notably the United Arab Emirates.
The renewed conflict presents a challenge for the United States, which lifted sanctions on Ethiopia and Eritrea earlier this month over atrocities associated with the previous civil war, saying the relevant “national emergency” had expired.
The US embassy in Ethiopia criticised the latest TPLF offensive, saying it was “disappointed to see the leadership of the TPLF… launch a large-scale offensive”.
The escalation has also raised concerns over the possible involvement of neighbouring Eritrea, which has longstanding tensions with Ethiopia.
Eritrea has expressed concern that Ethiopia could seek to secure access to the Red Sea, potentially adding another dimension to the conflict.
