Tigrai TV headquarters hit by drone strike in Mekelle

Tigray conflict drone strike TPLF offensive Mekelle Afar region

A drone strike hit the Tigrai TV headquarters in Mekelle on Sunday, damaging the building and forcing the regional broadcaster off the air during a live broadcast. No casualties have been reported from the strike, which occurred around 09:00 local time. The attack follows a recent decision by the Ethiopian Media Authority to suspend the station indefinitely.

The strike coincides with a major escalation in northern Ethiopia. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has launched an offensive, which it describes as a defensive war against the federal government. TPLF forces have reportedly captured the border town of Erebti in the Afar region following heavy artillery use and are advancing toward Afdera, a strategic location controlling the primary trade route from Djibouti.

The conflict has led to significant humanitarian concerns, with an estimated 150,000 people displaced in the Afar region. Additionally, broad telecommunications and internet outages are affecting the Tigray region, making it difficult to verify battlefield developments.

Entities

Abiy Ahmed · Afar · Antonio Guterres · Ethiopia · Mekelle · Tigrai TV · Tigray People’s Liberation Front · Tigray TV

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] Broad telecommunications and internet outages are affecting the Tigray region. kulu-media.com · newscentraltv.com · athina984.gr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +1 more
[● 2 SOURCES] No casualties have been reported following the drone strike on the broadcaster. kulu-media.com · lesinguliersete.fr
[● 6 SOURCES] The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched an offensive, describing it as a defensive war against the federal government. newscentraltv.com · lesinguliersete.fr · athina984.gr · information.tv5monde.com · imazpress.com · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] TPLF forces captured the border town of Erebti in the Afar region following heavy artillery use. lesinguliersete.fr · imazpress.com · newscentraltv.com · athina984.gr · information.tv5monde.com · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] An estimated 150,000 people have been displaced in the Afar region due to the escalating conflict. newscentraltv.com
[● 6 SOURCES] TPLF forces are advancing toward Afdera, a location that controls the primary trade route from Djibouti. lesinguliersete.fr · imazpress.com · newscentraltv.com · athina984.gr · information.tv5monde.com · +1 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The strike caused damage to the building's facade and shattered windows, knocking the station off the air. kulu-media.com · lesinguliersete.fr · newscentraltv.com · imazpress.com · athina984.gr · +2 more
[● 7 SOURCES] A drone strike hit the Tigrai TV headquarters in Mekelle on Sunday around 09:00 local time. kulu-media.com · lesinguliersete.fr · newscentraltv.com · imazpress.com · athina984.gr · +2 more