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Fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has intensified days after federal forces regained control of Mekelle, with airstrikes and artillery fire reported in several parts of the north.
Reuters reported that aid sources said strikes around Mekelle and other locations killed at least 17 people as government and Tigrayan forces continued to clash. The escalation has raised fears that the region could slide back into a conflict on the scale of the 2020–2022 Tigray war.
Mekelle changes hands again
Government forces and allied Tigray Peace Forces entered Mekelle on October 4, prompting Tigray People’s Liberation Front-aligned fighters to retreat from the regional capital. The development followed a rapid federal counteroffensive that began after fighting resumed in late September.
Residents and aid groups have faced renewed disruption as transport, communications and humanitarian access are affected by the fighting. The latest violence is occurring against a backdrop of unresolved political and security disputes in northern Ethiopia.
Regional tensions add to the risk
The conflict is also being watched closely beyond Ethiopia’s borders. Addis Ababa has accused neighbouring states of backing rebel forces, allegations the countries named have denied. Tensions with Eritrea have also risen over Ethiopia’s demand for reliable access to the Red Sea.
The United States has urged restraint and warned that a broader Ethiopia-Eritrea confrontation could have consequences for the wider Horn of Africa.
What happens next
With federal troops now holding Mekelle, the immediate focus is on whether fighting spreads further or gives way to negotiations. Humanitarian agencies are also monitoring access to civilians as the security situation changes rapidly.
The situation remains fluid, and casualty figures and battlefield claims can change as independent verification becomes possible.
Source notes: This report is based on Reuters reporting published October 4 and October 5, 2026, including reports on the capture of Mekelle and subsequent airstrikes and artillery fire.
