Eritrean troops move deep into Ethiopia's Tigray region as fighting escalates

What is Tigray, and where are the towns of Adigrat, Mekelle and Edaga Hamus?

Tigray is Ethiopia’s northernmost regional state and the homeland of the Tigrayan people. It has its own regional government, historically dominated by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, or TPLF. Its location matters because it borders Eritrea, making the conflict international as well as Ethiopian.

Adigrat is a major town in northern Tigray, near the Eritrean border. Mekelle is Tigray’s main city and regional capital. The article says Mekelle is about 115 kilometres south of Adigrat. Edaga Hamus lies between the two towns, along the route reportedly used by Eritrean military convoys.

The geography helps explain the military reports. Convoys were said to move from Zalambessa, a border town, through Adigrat toward Edaga Hamus and possibly onward toward Mekelle. Wukro is another important town on this corridor. Mekelle is now under national army control after TPLF forces withdrew.

How large are the reported Eritrean troop movements, and how far have the convoys traveled into Tigray?

Reported Eritrean troop movements were substantial but not independently verified by the BBC. One Adigrat resident saw about 40 trucks carrying soldiers. Another saw 20 to 30 large trucks moving toward Edaga Hamus. A source in Mekelle said relatives described movements involving as many as 60 trucks.

The reported route began near Zalambessa, a town on the Eritrean border. Convoys then allegedly passed through Adigrat and continued south toward Edaga Hamus, which lies between Adigrat and Mekelle. Some reports mentioned Wukro, another town on the same corridor. Witnesses also described heavy weapons and troops traveling on foot.

The article does not give a precise total number of soldiers or an exact distance traveled. It does establish that the movement reached well inside Tigray, beyond the border area. Images appeared to support the reports, but the BBC had not independently verified them.

Which forces are fighting in Tigray now, and why did the latest clashes begin?

The main Ethiopian sides are the national army and allied forces on one side, and TPLF forces on the other. Eritrean troops are also reportedly operating in Tigray. Ethiopia’s government says Eritrea has participated directly, while earlier accusations said Eritrea was backing the TPLF. Eritrea has denied that earlier claim.

The immediate crisis followed months of political tension between Ethiopia’s federal government and the TPLF, the party controlling Tigray. Both sides blame the other for violating the agreement that ended the previous civil war in 2022. TPLF forces later withdrew from Mekelle, leaving the city under national army control.

The conflict also connects to a wider political shift. In September, armed Ethiopian groups formed a new alliance that included the TPLF. That development raised fears that local fighting could become part of a broader challenge to the federal government. The renewed clashes therefore involve both local power and national politics.

What was the 2020–2022 Tigray war, and what did the 2022 peace deal attempt to resolve?

The 2020–2022 Tigray war was a major conflict between Ethiopia’s federal government and the TPLF, which controlled Tigray. Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia during the war. The conflict became one of the century’s deadliest, according to the article, and pushed Tigray close to famine.

A peace agreement in 2022 ended the two-year war. Its basic purpose was to halt organized fighting and create a political path away from military confrontation. Such an agreement also aimed to restore order between the federal government and Tigray’s regional authorities. The article does not list every provision, but it identifies the deal as the war-ending settlement.

The agreement has not produced lasting stability. The federal government and the TPLF now accuse each other of violating it. New clashes, Eritrean troop reports, and the TPLF’s participation in a wider armed alliance show how fragile the settlement remains.

What could renewed fighting mean for civilians in Tigray and for stability elsewhere in Ethiopia and the region?

For civilians, renewed fighting threatens safety, access to food, and basic services. The earlier war drove Tigray to the brink of famine. Residents now describe distress at seeing Eritrean soldiers again, recalling alleged atrocities from that conflict. Reported drone strikes and heavy weapons add to fears of civilian harm.

The mechanism is escalation. Battles between the national army, allied forces, and the TPLF can force people from their homes and disrupt roads, communications, and aid. The article also reports fighting near towns and the movement of heavy weapons. Those developments make local clashes harder to contain and may deepen mistrust among communities.

The risks extend beyond Tigray. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of direct involvement, while the two countries have severed diplomatic relations. A new alliance of armed Ethiopian groups includes the TPLF. Together, these developments raise the prospect of a wider Ethiopian conflict and regional instability.

Why is Eritrea involved in Ethiopia's conflict, and why have relations between the two countries deteriorated?

Eritrea has deep security interests in Tigray, directly across its southern border. During the 2020–2022 war, Eritrea was a key ally of Ethiopia and fought against the TPLF. The latest article reports Eritrean troops moving through northern Tigray, although the BBC had not independently verified the movements.

Ethiopia’s government has accused Eritrea of direct participation in the renewed conflict. It has also accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF, a claim Asmara previously denied. Eritrean involvement therefore remains politically disputed, even as witnesses and officials describe military activity. The shared border makes any deployment especially sensitive.

Relations later worsened over Ethiopia’s ambition to obtain ownership of one of Eritrea’s Red Sea ports. Ethiopia is landlocked, while Eritrea controls the coastline. The port dispute added strategic tension to old wartime grievances. Last week, the two countries severed diplomatic relations as fighting intensified.

Why does access to a Red Sea port matter so much to landlocked Ethiopia?

Ethiopia has no coastline, so its imports and exports must travel through ports in other countries. A nearby Red Sea port would provide a direct route for goods, fuel, machinery, and humanitarian supplies. It could lower transport costs and give Ethiopia more control over its trade connections.

This matters because Ethiopia is a large, populous economy surrounded partly by politically sensitive neighbors. Dependence on another country’s port can expose trade to higher fees, border disruptions, or diplomatic pressure. Access to a port can also support naval, commercial, and regional economic ambitions. These broader points are established geopolitical context; the article itself mainly highlights Ethiopia’s port ambition.

The dispute has become a major source of tension with Eritrea, which controls Red Sea ports including Massawa and Assab. The article says relations deteriorated largely because of Ethiopia’s ambition to take ownership of one of them. That disagreement now overlaps with renewed fighting and wider security fears.

Key Facts:

📌 Tigray is a region in northern Ethiopia.

📌 Mekelle lies about 115 kilometres south of Adigrat.

📌 Edaga Hamus sits between Adigrat and Mekelle.

📌 Witnesses reported between 20 and 60 military trucks.

📌 Convoys reportedly moved from Zalambessa through Adigrat.

📌 The reported destination was toward Edaga Hamus and central Tigray.

📌 The national army and allies are fighting TPLF forces.