Ethiopian troops enter town on border with Eritrea, stoking war fears

Ethiopian government troops have advanced to a town near the Eritrean border, reigniting fears of war between the two Horn of Africa nations, according to reports. The move comes as diplomats work to prevent conflict between the two neighboring countries. Witnesses and a conflict monitor say Eritrean forces crossed into Zalambessa, a town on the Ethiopian side of the border, last week in support of rebels.

However, it is unclear if the Eritrean soldiers or rebels remain in the area on Tuesday. Eritrea has denied any incursion into Ethiopia and requested the United Nations to take deterrent measures against Addis Ababa. Eritrea argues that Ethiopia's accusations are tantamount to a "declaration of war". The fighting in Ethiopia broke out last month when a rebel alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched an offensive, reigniting a war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives between 2020 and 2022.

With Eritrean and Ethiopian forces now on opposite sides once again, there are concerns that conflicts in the region could escalate further due to high tensions across the Red Sea. The Ethiopian military has driven rebels from several towns, pushing them north. By Tuesday, the army had reached Zalambessa, a town of around 15,000 residents on the Ethiopian side of the border with Eritrea.

Six sources, including residents, a diplomat, and an expert on the conflict, reported on the Ethiopian advance. However, the spokesperson for a pro-government militia did not confirm the military's control of the town. Neither Ethiopia's military nor Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office responded to requests for comment. Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been tense in recent years following a peace deal in 2018.

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the rebels, and wrote to Security Council members, claiming that Eritrean troops advanced up to 60 km (37 miles) inside Ethiopia. Eritrea's Foreign Minister Osman Saleh has asked the Security Council to take action against Addis Ababa under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows for measures ranging from sanctions to military action.

The issue of sea access has also strained relations, with Ethiopia arguing that restoring access to the sea is an existential issue, though it has said it would be regained through peace and dialogue.