Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of a cross‑border “invasion” in the northern Tigray region, saying the move triggers its right to self‑defence. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopia’s foreign minister called the action a blatant act of aggression and urged international support.
Eritrea’s Information Minister replied that the country was facing an “unprovoked war of aggression” and blamed Ethiopia for stoking the conflict, claiming it sought to intervene in Eritrean affairs. Eritrean officials also alleged that Ethiopia had been using the conflict to try to control one of its Red Sea ports.
The dispute comes after a 2022 peace deal ended a two‑year civil war between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). While the Ethiopian government says Eritrea backs the TPLF, Eritrea denies supporting the rebels.
Reports from residents and international monitors say that Eritrean troops crossed up to 60km into Tigray and that Ethiopian drones struck Eritrean positions in the town of Adigrat. Some witnesses say Eritrean forces were pushed back north after the strikes.
This flare‑up follows months of tension, a new alliance of armed groups in Ethiopia, and the recent withdrawal of TPLF forces from Mekelle, now under Ethiopian army control.
With diplomatic ties severed last week and both sides accusing each other of violating peace agreements, observers warn that the situation could spark a wider regional conflict in the Horn of Africa. The international community urges restraint and dialogue to prevent further escalation.
