Ethiopian federal forces and their allies have moved towards the town of Zalambessa on the border with Eritrea, amid military movements in northern Tigray that have raised fears of a regional war. The United States called on the two neighbouring countries to de-escalate and avoid cross-border incursions.
Ethiopian forces move towards Zalambessa
Agence France-Presse quoted a senior source in a faction allied with the Ethiopian government as saying on Wednesday that federal forces and their allies were moving towards Zalambessa. A member of the same faction said Eritrean soldiers who had been stationed in the town, which is divided by the border within the Tigray region, had withdrawn.
The senior source, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the defence forces now controlled villages near Zalambessa, but stressed that no Ethiopian forces had crossed into Eritrean territory. A Zalambessa resident said the Ethiopian army had reached a point about 5 kilometres south of the town, while the Eritrean army was stationed on its northern outskirts.
He added that the movements were causing deep concern among residents, who feared the border town could become a battlefield. Commenting on reports of cross-border movements, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel said reports that Ethiopian forces had crossed the border between the two countries could not be trusted.
Mekelle captured as Eritrean forces deploy
The developments follow an announcement by Ethiopian government forces earlier this month that they had taken control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, after Tigray People's Liberation Front forces withdrew. Eritrean forces also deployed at several locations in the north of the region before drone strikes forced them to retreat.
In recent days, government-aligned forces have continued advancing towards key towns near the Eritrean border, including Shire and Axum. Meanwhile, Tigray People's Liberation Front deputy leader Amanuel Assefa said a military alliance comprising groups opposed to the federal government would succeed in achieving its aim, while warning that the fighting could develop into a regional conflict.
Washington calls on Ethiopia and Eritrea to de-escalate
On the international front, the United States called on Ethiopia and Eritrea on Wednesday to de-escalate, as fears of a war between them grew. During a telephone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stressed that all countries in the Horn of Africa must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of neighbouring states and refrain from any cross-border incursions.
The US State Department said in a statement that Rubio stressed the region could not withstand further conflicts, and that the only sustainable solution to internal and external tensions was through dialogue and communication, as agreed under the peace framework reached by Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2018.
A security source said thousands of Eritrean soldiers had been deployed in Tigray last week, when the region was still under the control of the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The front took up arms again last month against Ethiopian federal forces in the north of the country. The fighting that erupted last month marks the biggest escalation in violence since the Tigray civil war between 2020 and 2022.
Eritrea later supported the Ethiopian federal government in its war against the Tigray People's Liberation Front between 2020 and 2022, but relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara deteriorated again towards the end of that conflict.
