Tigray forces launch offensive against Ethiopian federal government

A new civil war has erupted in Ethiopia as leaders of the Tigray region announced they have entered a defensive war against the federal government. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has formed an alliance with six other armed groups across Ethiopia with the stated goal of overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.

Government advisor Getachew Reda reported that Tigrayan fighters have seized control of federal-run airports in the Tigray region and launched full-scale offensives into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. In Amhara, Tigrayan forces are reportedly fighting alongside the Fano militia. In response to the seizure of airports, Ethiopian Airlines has suspended all flights to the Tigray region.

The escalation follows months of rising tensions and accusations of peace treaty violations between the TPLF and the federal government. This renewed conflict threatens the stability established by the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended a previous war that resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths and widespread famine. Recent reports also indicate drone strikes in the region, including an attack in the southern town of Alamatu that reportedly killed at least 14 people.