Airstrikes and artillery hit north Ethiopia as government and rebels clash, sources say

Airstrikes and artillery fire struck northern Ethiopia's Tigray region overnight into Monday, causing at least 17 casualties, according to humanitarian sources. The clashes between government and rebel forces have heightened fears of wider fighting. The government forces gained control of Mekelle, Tigray's capital, on the weekend.

The perpetrators of the attacks were Tigray People's Liberation Front fighters, part of a rebel alliance seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Official comments on the reports were not immediately available, as spokespersons for Abiy's office, the Ethiopian National Defence Force, and the TPLF did not respond to requests for information.

The United States has warned Ethiopia and Eritrea against escalating the conflict, potentially jeopardizing US collaboration with both nations. On Monday, Ethiopian military and Tigrayan forces engaged in heavy artillery fire near the Tekeze River, near the town of Mai Tsebri. The fighting marks the most severe escalation since a 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths.

US officials have urged the nations involved to exercise restraint, emphasizing the importance of sea access for Ethiopia's security and economy.