Ethiopian forces expand control in Tigray as militia claims Eritrean losses

Key points

• Ethiopian forces and allied TPF militia entered Aksum and expanded control in Tigray.
• TPF claimed Eritrean troops retreated with heavy losses; Eritrea rejected the claims as false.
• US Secretary of State Rubio urged de-escalation in a call with Ethiopia's PM Abiy.

Ethiopian forces and allied fighters have expanded their control across Tigray and entered the historic city of Aksum, as fighting continues in the northern region. The pro-government Tigray Peace Force (TPF) also claimed on Thursday that troops from neighbouring Eritrea have retreated towards the border.

TPF spokesperson Solomon Hailemariam said Eritrean forces had sustained significant casualties. Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the claims as false in comments to local media, and the reported losses could not be independently verified.

Conflict monitors report troop movements

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) documented Ethiopian government forces and TPF fighters entering Aksum, while rival Tigrayan fighters remained in surrounding mountainous areas. ACLED also reported Eritrean troops withdrawing across the border through Zalambessa after advances by Ethiopian forces and allies into strategic towns.

ACLED documented Ethiopian tanks and heavy weapons moving towards the Eritrean border on Tuesday, raising concerns about a possible confrontation between the neighbouring countries. Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of backing a rebel alliance of seven groups fighting the government of Abiy Ahmed. Eritrea denied accusations that its forces entered Tigray to support armed opposition groups and accused Ethiopia of threatening its sovereignty.

We are caught in the middle and living in deep anxiety.

— Selam, a resident of Zalambessa

Residents describe hardship in Zalambessa

Selam, a resident of Zalambessa whose first name was changed for security reasons, told AFP on Thursday that Ethiopian troops are on one side and Eritrean troops on the other. AFP reported no fighting now, but the town has been without power or water for a week.

Selam told the news agency, "We are caught in the middle and living in deep anxiety."

Diplomatic fallout and recent advances

Eritrea, which fought alongside Ethiopia's federal army in the 2020-2022 war, severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia over the accusations earlier this month. Khartoum and Cairo have also denied involvement in the conflict.

Ethiopian forces captured Tigray's regional capital Mekelle earlier this month, and the TPLF confirmed it had withdrawn from the city and moved its regional administration "temporarily" to another location. Government forces also retook Adwa and Adigrat without a fight, and there are reports of advances in Rama, near the Eritrean border. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for de-escalation in a phone call with Abiy, saying the region could not tolerate more conflict, according to the US Department of State.