{
  "id": 11755002,
  "title": "Tigray rebels retreat from Mekelle as Ethiopian forces advance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/03/tigray-rebels-retreat-from-mekelle-as-ethiopian-forces-advance",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-03T19:21:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Times",
    "slug": "daily-times",
    "url": "https://dailytimes.com.pk/1562099/tigray-rebels-retreat-from-mekelle-as-ethiopian-forces-advance/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Tigray rebels are withdrawing from Mekelle, the regional capital, as Ethiopian government forces advance on the city. According to reports from AFP, local residents, and a journalist, the rebels are leaving the city, and federal forces have entered Mekelle. The withdrawal comes after fighting erupted on September 23, when the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks into neighboring regions.\n\nThe Ethiopian federal troops have recaptured the airport in Mekelle, which had been suspended for commercial flights. The city's residents have expressed concerns about lawlessness and looting, as government offices and police stations have been left without security personnel.\n\nThe TPLF has been the dominant force in Tigray, but it was kicked out of a government-appointed administration earlier this year. The leader of the TPLF, Debretsion Gebremichael, implied in a video message that the group would continue guerrilla-style attacks.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}