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Fighting in northern Ethiopia between government forces and Tigrayan rebels erupted along a new front on Wednesday, the warring sides said, as the Tigray region was hit by another air strike.
The conflict resumed last week after a five-month lull, with clashes on the ground and air raids over Tigray dashing hopes of peacefully resolving the nearly two-year war.
Fighting had been concentrated around the southeastern border of Tigray, with the rebels pushing into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions, sending residents fleeing.
But Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government on Wednesday accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of launching “an invasion in the direction of Wag, Wolqait and our border areas with Sudan (Amhara region)”, west of the site of the most recent clashes.
“Our heroic national defense forces are defending this invasion with full preparedness and resolve,” the government communications service said in a statement.
TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda in turn alleged that the government and its neighbour Eritrea – which backed federal forces during the war’s early phase – were responsible for opening a new front.
“The Abiy regime, along with the Asmara regime, did launch (an) offensive in these fronts. We are defending our positions,” he said in a message to AFP.
Wolqait, also spelt Wolkait, lies in western Tigray, a disputed region claimed by Tigrayans and Amharas and currently occupied by Amhara forces.
The TPLF has repeatedly said the region is a “non-negotiable” part of Tigray.
Access to northern Ethiopia is severely restricted and it is not possible to independently verify the situation on the ground or the claims by the warring sides.
Air strike
Reports of a fresh offensive came as Tigray’s capital Mekele was hit by a second air strike since Friday.
The bombing occurred “close to midnight”…
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Source : france24
