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Geopolitics

Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of 'All-Out Invasion' of Tigray as Drone Strikes Target Forces

Addis Ababa warns it will exercise its right to self-defence; Asmara says it faces an 'unprovoked war of aggression'

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Ethiopia has told the UN Security Council that Eritrea launched an 'all-out invasion' of its northern Tigray region, warning it will defend itself, as drone strikes reportedly hit Eritrean troops deep inside Ethiopian territory. Eritrea denies the charge and says it is facing 'an unprovoked war of aggression' from its neighbour, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos described the incursion as a 'blatant act of aggression that engages Ethiopia's inherent right to self-defence'. The letter followed reports from residents that Eritrean troops had crossed the border days earlier.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel responded by accusing Ethiopia of launching an unprovoked attack.

The crisis erupted two weeks ago when fighting resumed between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the party that controls the Tigray region. Both sides accuse each other of violating the 2022 peace deal that ended a two-year civil war.

During that civil war, Eritrea was a key ally of the Ethiopian government, fighting alongside it against the TPLF. Relations have since soured, largely over Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ambition to secure access to one of Eritrea's Red Sea ports. Diplomatic ties were severed last week.

Ethiopia's foreign minister said Eritrean forces had advanced up to 60km (37 miles) into Tigray. Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly targeted Eritrean forces in the town of Adigrat on Wednesday and Thursday. The US-based conflict monitor Acled said 'Eritrean troops and ammunition' in Adigrat were hit by 'multiple drone strikes' overnight.

One resident told AFP news agency there were 'many, many drone strikes' and that some Eritrean lorries had been destroyed. Another witness said Eritrean forces appeared to be retreating north after the strikes.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The Horn of Africa faces the risk of a full-scale interstate war between Ethiopia and Eritrea, two heavily armed neighbours with a history of conflict.
  • The collapse of the 2022 Tigray peace deal and renewed fighting could destabilise the entire region, drawing in other actors.
  • Ethiopia's pursuit of Red Sea port access has become a flashpoint that threatens to unravel post-civil war stability.

Background

Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a bitter border war from 1998 to 2000. An uneasy peace held for two decades until Ethiopia's 2020-2022 civil war, during which Eritrea fought alongside the federal government against the TPLF. The 2022 Pretoria peace agreement ended that civil war but left tensions unresolved. In recent months, Ethiopia's interest in securing naval access through Eritrean territory has driven a sharp deterioration in relations, leading to the severance of diplomatic ties last week.

Key Perspectives

Ethiopia: Accuses Eritrea of an invasion of Tigray and asserts its right to self-defence under international law. Sees the Eritrean troop presence as a violation of its sovereignty and a threat to national security. Eritrea: Denies backing the TPLF and says it faces an unprovoked war of aggression from Ethiopia. Views Ethiopia's Red Sea ambitions as a direct challenge to its territorial integrity and claims its actions are defensive. Regional and international observers: Conflict monitors have confirmed drone strikes on what they describe as Eritrean forces inside Ethiopia. There is growing concern that the dispute could escalate into a broader confrontation with no clear off-ramp.

What to Watch

  • Whether Ethiopian drone strikes continue and if Eritrea responds with ground operations or air attacks.
  • The stance of the African Union and the UN Security Council, which have received Ethiopia's letter.
  • Signs of mobilisation along the broader Ethiopia-Eritrea border beyond the Tigray front.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

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