Ethiopian federal forces advance toward Mekelle as Tigray fighting enters eighth day

Fighting entered its eighth day in Ethiopia's north, with federal forces about 40 kilometers from Mekelle, the Tigray regional capital.

• At least 52 civilians died in three days of clashes around Alamata, where federal troops have taken the town, hospital sources told the BBC.
• Federal forces advanced to within 40 kilometers of Mekelle as residents fled the city amid power and internet outages.
• Afar Deputy Governor Ahmed Hussein accused Eritrea of backing forces that seized Abala and Erbeti, a claim no neutral source confirmed.
• The TPLF said it responded to a federal offensive, while the government said Tigrayan forces attacked first after seizing the region's airports.