Ethiopian commander reports drone strikes in Tigray as markets reopen in regional capital

Mekelle, Ethiopia (AP) — Government-allied forces expanded their control over Ethiopia's Tigray region on Tuesday, employing drone strikes and working with the Ethiopian National Defense Force, according to Ermiyas Ababu, a commander of the Tigray Peace Force. The conflict emerged after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew from Mekelle, the regional capital, and joined six other opposition groups in an alliance aiming to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The TPLF had previously been at odds with government forces, undermining a November 2022 peace agreement that concluded a two-year war. While Ermiyas claimed his group was conducting drone strikes and alleged Eritrean troops were present in northern Tigray, these assertions could not be independently verified by the AP. Mekelle residents reported a tentative resumption of commerce, with limited supplies and a shortage of cash persisting as a significant issue.