to widen into a regional war. Fighting erupted on September 23 between the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian federal forces, raising fears of a return to the 2020–2022 civil war. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing the rebels, and last week the two neighbours severed diplomatic ties as long-standing tensions deepened.

Ethiopian forces, aided by local militias, pushed the TPLF back and entered the regional capital, Mekelle, without a fight at the weekend after the rebels abandoned the city. Multiple sources told AFP that Eritrean troops were in Adigrat, roughly 115 kilometers north of Mekelle on the road to the Eritrean border, and were advancing southward. Analysts say Eritrea wants to stop the war from spilling onto its own territory should the TPLF be forced to retreat across the border.

Gebreigziabher Beyene, commander of the pro-government Tigray Peace Force, said the Eritrean army entered Tigray in uniform with heavy weaponry and was being targeted by drones. He claimed Eritrea was deliberately deploying forces so fighting occurs inside Tigray rather than Eritrea. In Adigrat, two eyewitnesses saw Eritrean soldiers heading south, with one describing troops loaded onto large trucks and patrol vehicles carrying heavy weaponry. A local official, speaking anonymously, said the troops had been present for days and that residents were deeply concerned.

Insecurity was also reported west of Mekelle, where an Adwa resident said weekend drone strikes hit hotels, killing several civilians and wounding four others. Eritrea gained independence in 1993 and fought a brutal border war with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000. Relations improved after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, and Eritrea even fought alongside Ethiopia in the 2020–2022 civil war. Ties later deteriorated, with Eritrea fearing landlocked Ethiopia may seek Red Sea access by force. Earlier this month, Ethiopia expelled ten Eritrean diplomats and shut its embassy in Asmara, prompting Eritrea to sever all diplomatic ties. Regional expert Kjetil Tronvoll of Oslo New University College said maintaining strategic depth and a buffer zone in northern Tigray - and fighting the Ethiopian army on Tigrayan soil - is essential for Eritrea. (Bssnews)