Ethiopian federal troops and allied forces have taken control of Adigrat, a critical northern Tigrayan hub situated near the border with Eritrea. The advance comes hot on the heels of the fall of the regional capital, Mekelle, which federal forces entered earlier in the month following the strategic withdrawal of TPLF fighters.
Local residents reported that TPLF units abandoned Adigrat, leaving the streets largely deserted as federal units moved in. While commercial shops remained shuttered and civilian anxiety over potential looting and property theft persisted, the smooth entry underscores the rapid retreat of rebel forces toward the northern frontier under intense federal counter-offensives.
The flare-up in northern Ethiopia, sparked by renewed clashes in late September, has rapidly expanded beyond domestic conflict lines, triggering severe regional friction. Addis Ababa has accused neighboring Eritrea of deploying mechanized infantry units and backing TPLF remnants, stoking fears of a resumption of full-scale inter-state war.
In response to what Asmara termed a "declaration of war" by the Ethiopian government, Eritrea formally petitioned the United Nations Security Council last week to take immediate deterrent measures. International monitors and diplomatic bodies, including the UN, have expressed deep alarm over the deteriorating security architecture in the Horn of Africa as federal forces push closer to the border zone.
Meanwhile, basic transport and communication lifelines are slowly being restored in secure urban centers, with domestic flights to Mekelle resuming as federal authorities consolidate administrative control over the region.
