Conflict & Security
Ethiopian forces recapture Mekele airport and enter Tigray capital
October 3, 2026 at 11:28 PM · Updated 12d ago
Coverage
4 reports · over 9 hours
MAMasrawy
الولايات المتحدة تُحذر إثيوبيا وإريتريا: المنطقة لا تحتمل حربًا أخرى
(opens the publisher’s site)
SNSky News Arabia
تحذير أميركي لإثيوبيا وإريتريا: المنطقة لا تحتمل حربا أخرى
(opens the publisher’s site)
SNSky News Arabia
القوات الإثيوبية تستعيد السيطرة على مطار عاصمة تيغراي
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
القوات الإثيوبية تسيطر على مطار ميكيلي وتدخل عاصمة تيغراي
(opens the publisher’s site)Ethiopian government forces have recaptured the airport in Mekele and entered the Tigray capital after a week of renewed fighting with the TPLF-led opposition alliance.
- Ethiopian government forces recaptured the Alula Aba Nega airport, about 10 kilometers from central Mekele, on Saturday.
- Government forces entered Mekele after rebel fighters largely withdrew, and some TPLF fighters were seen leaving their positions, residents said.
- US State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott called on Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise maximum restraint, warning the Horn of Africa cannot afford another conflict.
- Addis Ababa cut diplomatic relations with Eritrea this week, accusing it, Sudan, and Egypt of backing the rebels; the three deny the charge.
- Ethiopia closed its embassy in Asmara and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats.
- Eritrea severed all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia on Thursday, accusing it of a hostile policy and seeking access to the Red Sea.
- The US warned a war would threaten cooperation with both countries and risk the 2018 peace agreement.