Ethiopia and Tigray accuse each other of launching offensives

Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have accused each other of launching offensives in late September 2026, deepening fears of a return to full-scale war. Ethiopian Airlines cancelled all flights to Tigray, and the African Union called for an “immediate de-escalation”.

What does each side say happened?

Getachew Reda, a cabinet minister and adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, said Tigrayan fighters had taken control of federally administered airports in Tigray and launched offensives in the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara. He said the TPLF leadership had “early this morning launched an all-out offensive against government positions in Afar and Amhara”.

Tigray’s authorities said their forces had been forced to enter a “defensive war” after reports of drone strikes in the region in recent days. On Wednesday, they accused Addis Ababa of launching an “open invasion” of Tigray and said public services and critical infrastructure had been disrupted.

How many people were killed in the Alamata strike?

A strike on Tuesday in the southern town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others, according to Tigrayan authorities. Alamata’s mayor, Mogos Shiferaw, told the BBC that more than five drones and one fighter jet carried out more than 21 strikes starting at around 03:30. He said all the dead and injured were civilians and accused federal forces of targeting two secondary schools that he said were unoccupied because the academic year had not begun, although they had served as federal military bases during the civil war. The BBC has not independently verified the allegations, and the Ethiopian government has not commented on the alleged strikes.

What is the background to the fighting?

The two-year war in Tigray ended in November 2022 with the African Union-brokered Pretoria Agreement, which both sides have since been accused of failing to implement in full. The African Union’s mediator estimated that some 600,000 people died in the conflict, which drove the region to the brink of famine. In July, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed told parliament that the TPLF was preparing for renewed conflict.

On Sunday, the TPLF announced an alliance with six other Ethiopian rebel groups aimed at removing the government in Addis Ababa.

Who has called for restraint?

Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, chairperson of the African Union Commission, called for an “immediate de-escalation” and for both sides to resume talks. The US ambassador to Ethiopia condemned the TPLF for what he called the “poor decision to launch a large-scale offensive”, describing it as an “unwinnable fight”. The US State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs condemned a separate drone strike it said took place on Monday against a convoy of Catholic vehicles carrying food aid, and called for an investigation.

Ethiopian President Taye Astike Selassie told the UN General Assembly that his country had shown “immense restraint” despite “interference in our internal affairs by adversarial elements”, without specifying who those elements were. Residents of Mekelle, Tigray’s main city, told the BBC that local forces had taken control of the city’s airport from the national police early on Wednesday.

Frequently asked questions

Why are Ethiopia and Tigray accusing each other of launching offensives?

Ethiopia’s federal government says TPLF forces seized airports in Tigray and attacked positions in Afar and Amhara, while Tigray’s authorities say their forces entered a “defensive war” after drone strikes and accuse Addis Ababa of an “open invasion”.

How many people were killed in the Alamata strike?

At least 14 people were killed and 22 injured in a strike on the southern town of Alamata, according to Tigrayan authorities. The BBC says it has not independently verified the allegations and the Ethiopian government has not commented.

What was the Pretoria Agreement?

The Pretoria Agreement was the African Union-brokered deal signed in November 2022 that formally ended the two-year war between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan forces.

Has Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Tigray?

Yes. Ethiopian Airlines cancelled all flights to Tigray after Tigrayan fighters took control of federally administered airports in the region.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Airport Window — Matt Bango / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)