Drone strikes in Ethiopia’s Tigray region ‘kill one’

One person was killed and another injured in drone strikes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, a senior Tigrayan official and a humanitarian worker said; This is another sign of renewed conflict between regional and federal powers.

The Ethiopian army fought fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front for two years until late 2022; In that war, researchers say hundreds of thousands of people were killed due to direct violence, collapse of health services, and famine.

Clashes broke out between regional and national forces in the disputed region of Western Tigray earlier this week, according to diplomatic and government sources.

“Drone strikes hit two Isuzu trucks near Enticho and Gendebta, two places in Tigray about 20 km apart from each other,” the senior Tigrayan official said.

A humanitarian worker confirmed that strikes were taking place.

Both requested that their names not be disclosed.

The Tigrayan official said the Ethiopian National Defense Force launched the attacks but did not provide evidence.

An ENDF spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

It is not yet clear what the trucks are carrying.

TPLF-affiliated news outlet Dimtsi Weyane posted photos on Facebook that it said showed trucks damaged by the strike.

It was stated that the trucks were carrying food and kitchen utensils.

Pro-government activists posting on social media said the trucks were carrying weapons.

Earlier this week, Ethiopian Airlines canceled flights to Tigray, where residents were trying to withdraw cash from banks.

The Tigray war ended with a peace agreement in November 2022, but disagreements remained over a number of issues, including disputed territories in western Tigray and the delay in disarmament of Tigray forces.