Ethiopia and Eritrea accuse each other of launching war as border tensions deepen

Ethiopia and Eritrea have accused each other of launching a war as tensions between the two neighbours escalate into a direct interstate confrontation. Ethiopia told the United Nations Security Council that Eritrean forces carried out an "all-out invasion" of northern Ethiopia, while Eritrea said it is facing a "war of aggression" from its neighbour. The exchange comes just days after the two countries cut diplomatic ties.

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In a letter shared with news agencies, Ethiopia's foreign minister, Gedion Timothewos, said Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60 kilometres into northern Tigray and demanded their withdrawal. Eritrea's information minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, rejected the accusation and said Ethiopia had been pursuing an unprovoked war of aggression for more than three years. He also said Asmara had shown restraint after Ethiopian officials said in 2023 that Ethiopia would seek access to the sea.

The dispute is unfolding alongside renewed fighting in Tigray, where Ethiopian forces have pushed back the Tigray People's Liberation Front and taken the regional capital, Mekelle. Witnesses also said the rebel-held towns of Shire and Adigrat changed hands, and that Eritrean troops were seen in Adigrat before Ethiopian drone strikes hit them. The reports have not been independently verified by either government, but they have raised fears that the fighting could spread beyond the border region.

The confrontation matters because it revives one of the Horn of Africa's most dangerous rivalries and raises the risk of a wider regional war. Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border war from 1998 to 2000, and relations improved only after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018. Eritrea was also a key ally of Ethiopia during the 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray, but that alliance has since broken down as mistrust deepened between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

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The current escalation is also tied to the legacy of the Pretoria ceasefire, which ended the civil war but has effectively unravelled as fighting resumed. The supplied reports say the battlefield now involves federal forces, Tigrayan fighters and, potentially, Eritrean troops, with the situation shifting quickly across northern Ethiopia. That makes the dispute more than a local border incident, because it could affect regional security, trade routes and diplomatic relations across the Horn of Africa.

What remains unclear is how far Eritrean forces have moved inside Tigray, whether Ethiopian strikes have forced a lasting withdrawal, and whether the fighting will stay concentrated around the border towns or spread further. It is also not clear whether any diplomatic channel remains open after the two countries severed ties. The next developments to watch are any formal response from the United Nations, further troop movements, and whether either side signals a willingness to step back from direct confrontation.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of carrying out an "all-out invasion" of its northern Tigray region and says Eritrean forces have advanced as far as 60km into Ethiopian territory. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopia's foreign minister described the move as a "blatant act of aggression" and said the country would defend itself. Eritrea has rejected the accusation and says it is facing an "unprovoked war of aggression" from its neighbour.

The latest exchange comes after residents reported Eritrean troops crossing into Tigray and after Ethiopian drone strikes were reported against Eritrean forces in the border town of Adigrat. A conflict monitor said Eritrean troops and ammunition in the town were hit by multiple drone strikes overnight, while witnesses said some Eritrean vehicles were destroyed and troops appeared to be retreating north. The reports have not been independently verified by either government, but they add to fears that the fighting could spread beyond Tigray.

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The confrontation is unfolding against the backdrop of renewed fighting between Ethiopia's federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which both sides say has broken a 2022 deal that ended the civil war. Eritrea was a key ally of Ethiopia during that war, but relations between the two countries have since deteriorated sharply. The two governments severed diplomatic ties last week, and the current dispute now raises the prospect of direct interstate conflict in the Horn of Africa.

What remains unclear is how far Eritrean forces have moved inside Tigray, whether Ethiopian strikes have forced a lasting withdrawal, and how much territory federal forces still control in the north. It is also not clear whether the fighting will remain concentrated around Adigrat and Mekelle or spread further across the border region. The next developments to watch are any formal response from Eritrea, further movement of troops, and whether diplomatic efforts can prevent the confrontation from widening further.

Ethiopia and Eritrea have accused each other of starting a war of aggression as fighting linked to Tigray intensifies and the risk of a wider regional conflict grows. Ethiopian officials say Eritrean troops are present in northern Tigray supporting rebels, while Eritrea says it is facing an unprovoked attack from Ethiopia. The latest exchanges come days after the two countries severed diplomatic ties.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos said Eritrea's conduct was a blatant act of aggression and an attack on Ethiopia's right to self-defence. Eritrea's information minister, Yemane Gebremeskel, responded that his country was facing an unprovoked war of aggression. A foreign security source estimated that between 5,000 and 8,000 Eritrean soldiers were in Tigray, while Ethiopian officials put the figure at up to 8,000.

The reports also say Ethiopian forces have pushed back the Tigray People's Liberation Front and taken Mekelle, the regional capital, while flights to the city are due to resume on 11 October. Witnesses said the rebels also lost Shire and Adigrat, and that Eritrean troops seen in Adigrat were later targeted by Ethiopian drone strikes. An aid worker in Shire said looting followed the withdrawal of TPLF fighters and local administrators, with four people killed and 11 injured in gunfire linked to the disorder.

The confrontation matters because it raises the prospect of direct interstate conflict in the Horn of Africa, not just a continuation of Ethiopia's internal war. Eritrea and Ethiopia have a long history of confrontation, including the 1998 to 2000 border war, and their relations improved only after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018. The current fighting has revived fears that battlefield gains in Tigray could spill across borders and draw in neighbouring states.

The present escalation is also shaped by the legacy of the 2020 to 2022 civil war, when Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia against the TPLF. That conflict caused heavy civilian losses and deep mistrust between the parties, and the Pretoria ceasefire that ended it has effectively broken down. The renewed violence now involves federal forces, Eritrean troops, and Tigrayan fighters, with the battlefield shifting quickly across northern Ethiopia.

What remains unclear is how far Eritrean forces have advanced, whether Ethiopian drone strikes have forced a lasting retreat, and how firmly federal forces control the towns they say they have taken. It is also not clear whether the fighting will stay concentrated in Tigray or spread further into neighbouring areas. The next developments to watch are any official confirmation from either government, further cross-border movement, and whether diplomacy can prevent the conflict from widening further.

Ethiopian federal forces have entered Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, after nearly two weeks of intense fighting, according to the supplied reports. The advance came after rebel forces, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front, withdrew from the city. The development marks a major shift in the conflict, but the fighting has not ended and continues elsewhere in Tigray.

The reports say federal forces used air power and ground troops to push across the region, while rebel fighters suffered setbacks around Alamata and Kobo before pulling back into the countryside. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael said the group would continue fighting on its own terms, indicating that the withdrawal from Mekelle does not amount to a surrender. The same reports also say Eritrean troops may have entered northern Tigrayan towns, adding a further layer of uncertainty to the battlefield picture.

The capture of Mekelle is significant because it echoes the early phase of the 2020 war, when federal forces also took the city and later saw Tigrayan forces regroup in the mountains. That earlier conflict lasted for nearly a year and a half and ended with the 2022 Pretoria ceasefire, which the new fighting has now effectively broken. Ethiopia is also already dealing with insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia, raising the risk that its federal forces could be stretched across multiple fronts.

The wider implications extend beyond Ethiopia's internal conflict. The reports suggest the fighting is now testing regional ties, especially if Eritrean forces are involved in northern Tigray. Analysts cited in the supplied material say the situation could affect neighbouring states that are already watching Ethiopia's security posture, including over issues linked to the Red Sea and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.

The current escalation also sits within the legacy of the 2020-2022 civil war, when Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia against the TPLF. That war caused heavy civilian losses and left deep mistrust between the parties, while relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have again deteriorated. The renewed fighting has revived fears that battlefield gains in one area could trigger retaliation or a wider regional confrontation.

What remains unclear is how firmly federal forces now control Mekelle, whether rebel fighters will regroup for a prolonged insurgency, and how far any Eritrean involvement extends. It is also not clear whether the fighting will stay concentrated in Tigray or spread further into neighbouring areas. The next developments to watch are any official confirmation from Ethiopia or Eritrea, signs of further cross-border movement, and whether diplomacy can prevent the conflict from widening further.

Ethiopian government drones have struck Eritrean troops who crossed into the Tigray region, according to a conflict monitor and civilian witnesses, in a development that raises the risk of a wider regional war. The reported attacks took place on Wednesday evening and again on Thursday morning near Adigrat, a town close to the border with Eritrea. The latest fighting comes as renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia continues to spread across several fronts.

According to the supporting reports, military vehicles carrying soldiers crossed Eritrea's southern border into Tigray on Wednesday and reached Adigrat, about 25 miles, or 40 kilometres, south of the frontier. The conflict monitoring group ACLED said the Eritrean troops were then targeted by Ethiopian drones. A militia commander and civilian witnesses also described the movement of vehicles and soldiers in the area, although the reports have not been independently verified by either government.

The escalation is unfolding alongside fighting involving the Tigray People's Liberation Front and six other armed groups in Tigray, Amhara and Afar over the past two weeks. Ethiopian forces have pushed back against that offensive, and an allied militia, the Tigray Peace Force, took control of Mekelle, the regional capital, on 4 October after the TPLF withdrew. The reports also follow a period of heightened tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with each side accusing the other of hostile intent.

The significance of the latest strikes lies in the possibility that a local battlefield episode could turn into direct interstate conflict. Eritrea and Ethiopia have a long history of confrontation, including a border war from 1998 to 2000 and years of tension over security and access to the Red Sea. Their relations improved after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, but the current fighting has revived fears of a broader confrontation in the Horn of Africa.

The present crisis is also shaped by the legacy of the 2020 to 2022 civil war, when Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia against the TPLF. That conflict caused heavy civilian losses, with British government estimates putting the death toll between 300,000 and 800,000, and both sides and their allies were accused of war crimes. Eritrea's information minister, Yemane Ghebremeskel, has not confirmed or denied the reported presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia, while Ethiopia's foreign ministry has said it stands ready to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

What remains unclear is how many Eritrean troops crossed into Tigray, how much damage the drone strikes caused, and whether the reported movement northward amounts to a retreat or a temporary repositioning. It is also not clear whether the fighting will remain concentrated around Adigrat or spread further across Tigray, Amhara and Afar. The next developments to watch are any official confirmation from either government, signs of further cross-border retaliation, and whether regional diplomacy can prevent the conflict from widening further.

Ethiopian drone strikes have targeted Eritrean forces around the northern Tigrayan city of Adigrat, according to a conflict monitor and witnesses, in a sharp escalation of fighting along the Ethiopia-Eritrea border. The strikes were reported overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, after Eritrean troops were said to have crossed into Ethiopia this week. The development adds to fears that the renewed conflict in northern Ethiopia could widen into a broader regional confrontation.

ACLED said Eritrean troops and ammunition in the Adigrat area were hit by multiple drone strikes. Witnesses described repeated explosions and said Eritrean lorries and military vehicles had been destroyed or damaged. One witness said the vehicles were no longer visible in the streets, while another said Eritrean troops appeared to be retreating north.

The reports have not been independently verified by the Ethiopian or Eritrean governments. The strikes come as fighting continues in Afar and Amhara, where a seven-group rebel coalition led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front has been pushing against federal forces since announcing an offensive last week. The latest reports also follow claims that Eritrean troops were already present around Adigrat, a sensitive location close to the border.

Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties last week, further reducing the chances of rapid de-escalation through direct political contact. The confrontation matters because the two countries have a long and volatile history, including a border war from 1998 to 2000 and years of tension over security and access to the Red Sea. Relations improved after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, but they have deteriorated again in recent months.

Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia during the 2020-2022 civil war against the TPLF, making the current accusations especially significant for the wider balance of power in the Horn of Africa. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing rebels in Tigray, while Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of supporting its opponents and seeking a pretext to invade. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel said Ethiopia was openly working to bring about regime change in Eritrea by sheltering and supporting what he called opposition mercenaries.

Ethiopian and Eritrean officials have not publicly clarified the latest battlefield reports, and neither side has confirmed the scale of any deployment near Adigrat. What remains unclear is how many Eritrean troops were present, how extensive the damage was, and whether the reported retreat reflects a temporary movement or a broader withdrawal. It is also not clear whether the drone strikes will alter the pace of fighting in Tigray, Afar and Amhara, or whether they will trigger further cross-border retaliation.

For now, the key issue is whether the reported strikes mark a contained battlefield episode or the start of a wider interstate escalation.

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