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Ethiopia: Tigray war returns as rebels seize airports
War has returned to Ethiopia's Tigray region, shattering the 2022 peace agreement that ended a conflict responsible for an estimated 600,000 deaths. Tigrayan rebel forces, led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), have seized control of three major regional airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire.
The conflict has expanded beyond Tigray, with heavy fighting reported in the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions. This new escalation is marked by a significant shift in battlefield alliances: the TPLF has joined forces with former enemies, including the Fano militias and other armed groups from Oromia and Afar, to form the 'Alliance for Survival.' This coalition has stated its primary objective is to overthrow the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
While Tigrayan leaders describe their actions as a 'defensive war' in response to federal attacks, government advisors accuse the TPLF of launching an 'all-out offensive.' The Ethiopian federal military has reported conducting drone strikes and counter-offensives, claiming hundreds of rebels have been killed.
In response to the instability, Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all flights to the Tigray region. Additionally, NetBlocks has reported severe telecommunications blackouts and internet disruptions across northern Ethiopia. The African Union has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
Entities
Abiy Ahmed · African Union · Ethiopian Airlines · Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival · Tigray · Tigray People's Liberation Front · Tigray People’s Liberation Front
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] NetBlocks reported significant internet connectivity disruptions and telecommunications blackouts in northern Ethiopia. www.upday.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Federal forces claim to have killed 272 rebels and wounded 260 during counter-offensives. www.upday.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Seven armed opposition groups, including the TPLF and Fano militias, formed the 'Alliance for Survival' to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. www.upday.com · www.timesnownews.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all flights to the Tigray region following the airport seizures. kvia.com · www.timesnownews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The African Union has called for an immediate halt to the military escalation in Ethiopia. www.timesnownews.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Tigrayan rebel forces have seized control of three regional airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire. www.pressen.se · www.upday.com · kvia.com · www.timesnownews.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The TPLF launched an all-out offensive against government positions in the Afar and Amhara regions. kvia.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Clashes between Tigrayan and federal forces began near the Sudan border on August 1. kvia.com · www.timesnownews.com