Ethiopian drone strikes hit Tigray as Eritrean troops deploy near Adigrat

Ethiopian-allied forces have launched drone strikes in Tigray while local sources report Eritrean troops deploying near Adigrat, amid severed diplomatic ties between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

• Ethiopian commander Ermias Ababu said allied forces launched drone strikes in Tigray to expand control after TPLF fighters withdrew from Mekelle.
• Local sources and residents said Eritrean troops deployed around Adigrat, about 40 kilometers south of the border, with some moving toward Mekelle.
• Eritrea cut all diplomatic relations with Ethiopia last week after Addis Ababa expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara.
• US State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Horn of Africa cannot afford another conflict and urged both countries to return to dialogue.
• Eritrea denied having forces in Tigray, dismissing reports of deployment as a pretext for an Ethiopian attack.