Eritrean troops move deep into Ethiopia's Tigray region, residents tell BBC

Eritrean soldiers have entered northern Ethiopia, heading towards Tigray, a region where clashes have been ongoing between government troops and regional forces. Tensions erupted two weeks ago following months of discord between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Both parties claim responsibility for breaching a 2022 agreement that ended a two-year civil war.

Ethiopia has also accused Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, a claim Asmara has denied. The latest unrest follows a September announcement of a new alliance of armed groups in Ethiopia, which now includes the TPLF.

The TPLF forces have recently withdrawn from Tigray's capital city, Mekelle, which is 115km south of Adigrat. Adigrat, a town in northern Ethiopia, is now under the control of the national army. Eritrea was a crucial ally of Ethiopia during their 2020-2022 conflict, which was one of the deadliest in recent history and led to a famine in Tigray. However, relations between the two nations have since soured, primarily due to Ethiopia's aspiration to control one of Eritrea's Red Sea ports.

The BBC is unable to personally report from Tigray and surrounding areas, but mobile phone connections and internet access have been restored to most regions since the military took control of Mekelle. Reports indicate that Eritrean troops have moved from the border town of Zalambessa towards central Tigray, with convoys traversing Adigrat and proceeding towards Edaga Hamus, a town situated between Adigrat and Mekelle.

One anonymous Adigrat resident observed approximately 40 trucks carrying soldiers, with the convoy moving south. Another witness reported seeing Eritrean vehicles with registration plates passing through the city. Residents traveling along the route have also reportedly seen additional vehicles with heavy weaponry, including anti-aircraft guns.

Furthermore, some troops are believed to be advancing on foot. According to a source in Mekelle, eyewitnesses saw up to 60 trucks carrying soldiers, which were subsequently deployed in mountainous terrain near Edaga Hamus.

Social media images suggest heavily loaded military trucks transporting uniformed personnel towards Adigrat, Edaga Hamus, and possibly Wukro, another significant town along the route connecting Adigrat and Mekelle. The BBC has not independently confirmed these images. In Wukro, local residents reported that national army soldiers and allied fighters entered the town on Wednesday, following an exchange of heavy weapons around 15km south of the town.

The return of Eritrean forces has raised concerns among Tigray's residents, who recall the alleged atrocities committed by Eritrean soldiers during the recent civil war. One Adigrat resident expressed emotional distress at the sight of Eritrean soldiers once again, stating that the memories are still vivid. Another Wukro resident reported drone strikes nearby, with soldiers targeted.

Ethiopian officials, however, assert that Eritrea has directly participated in the conflict, accusing them of providing full support and logistics to the TPLF. The senior Ethiopian government official, Abraham Belay, claimed that many Eritrean soldiers have been killed and captured, warning that retaliation would be severe.