Military and pro-government forces recapture main airport in Tigray’s capital as fighting also rages in Amhara and Afar regions.
Ethiopia’s military and pro-government forces have recaptured the main airport in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, as the government forces advanced in the northern region after more than a week of intense fighting.
Fighting erupted last week between the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its allies, shattering the fragile Pretoria Agreement, a peace deal signed in November 2022.
The fighting has stoked fears that it could escalate into a wider regional conflict, potentially drawing in neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa.
This is what you need to know about the latest developments:
What is the latest on the fighting?
Ethiopian troops regained control of Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, a source with knowledge of the events in the city and a humanitarian source told the Reuters news agency.
The airport, about 10km (6 miles) east of the centre of Mekelle, was one of three airfields in the region that were seized by rebel forces at the start of the fighting on September 23.
A third source, a Mekelle resident who asked not to be named for security reasons, confirmed government forces had retaken the airport and added that gunfire could be heard outside the city centre.
