Forces from the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray launched a major offensive against the federal government on Wednesday, September 23, signaling a collapse of the peace deal that ended the 2020-2022 war. Tigray People’s Liberation Forces seized control of three regional airports, including a key airport in the city of Mekelle, and engaged federal troops in multiple locations across the Afar and Amhara regions.
The escalating violence has prompted Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to three airports in Tigray. While Tigray rebels claim they are responding to a full-scale offensive by the government, federal officials have countered that the rebels started the fighting.
These developments follow months of growing tensions and the announcement of a new anti-government alliance. Observers and experts warn that the conflict could enter a dangerous new phase, threatening a return to full-scale war and a wider regional conflict.