Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly hit Eritrean military vehicles near Adigrat in northern Tigray on Wednesday night, according to witnesses and conflict monitor ACLED. The reported attacks came days after Ethiopia expelled Eritrean diplomats and Eritrea announced that it would sever diplomatic relations, raising concern that renewed fighting could spread across the Horn of Africa.
The incident is a major development in regional security, although the claims have not been independently confirmed by the Ethiopian or Eritrean governments. Reports indicate that Eritrean troops and ammunition positioned around Adigrat were targeted as a Tigray-led rebel coalition continued an offensive against federal forces.
What happened near Adigrat?
ACLED said multiple drone strikes struck the Adigrat area overnight between Wednesday and Thursday. Witnesses told AFP that several Eritrean lorries and military vehicles were damaged or destroyed, while one witness reported hearing a large explosion during the night.
Another witness said Eritrean military vehicles appeared to have been hit, while a third reported that Eritrean troops seemed to be withdrawing northwards. The accounts were provided anonymously because of security concerns.
The reports come as fighting has been recorded not only in Tigray but also in the Afar and Amhara regions. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front-led coalition announced its offensive last week, intensifying an already fragile security situation in northern Ethiopia.
Why Ethiopia and Eritrea are facing a new confrontation
Ethiopia and Eritrea have a long history of conflict and political mistrust. The two countries fought a border war between 1998 and 2000, before relations improved after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018.
That rapprochement was significant. Eritrea later fought alongside Ethiopian federal forces during the 2020–2022 war in Tigray against the TPLF. However, the alliance deteriorated after the peace agreement that ended the conflict, with Eritrea expressing dissatisfaction with the settlement and Ethiopia renewing its claims about the need for access to the Red Sea.
Ethiopian officials have accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups linked to the latest rebellion in Tigray. Addis Ababa has also accused Sudan and Egypt of backing the TPLF-led alliance. Those allegations have not been accepted by the governments named in the reports.
Eritrea has rejected Ethiopia’s accusations and instead alleged that Addis Ababa is supporting opponents of the Eritrean government. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel accused Ethiopia of seeking regime change in Eritrea, while Ethiopia has not publicly confirmed the latest battlefield claims.
Diplomatic relations have broken down
The reported drone attacks followed a sharp diplomatic rupture. Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara last Thursday. Eritrea subsequently said it would sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia.
The breakdown removes important channels for communication at a time when troops from both countries are reportedly operating near a contested and highly sensitive border region. It also makes it more difficult for the two governments to manage accusations, prevent escalation or establish arrangements for the safe movement of civilians.
Neither government had responded to questions about the reported fighting at the time of publication. As a result, the precise scale of the damage, the number of casualties and the status of Eritrean forces near Adigrat remain unclear.
Could the conflict spread beyond Tigray?
The immediate concern is that fighting involving Tigrayan forces, Ethiopian federal troops and Eritrean forces could develop into a wider regional conflict. The reported involvement of forces from outside Tigray has already expanded the geographic and political dimensions of the crisis.
Several factors make the situation particularly sensitive:
- Cross-border military activity: Eritrean troops are reported to have crossed into northern Ethiopia and taken positions around Adigrat.
- Multiple armed actors: The conflict involves federal forces, the TPLF-led coalition and forces associated with neighbouring states.
- Diplomatic isolation: Ethiopia and Eritrea have announced a breakdown in formal relations.
- Strategic geography: Ethiopia’s interest in Red Sea access has heightened tensions with Eritrea, which controls the coastline separating Ethiopia from the sea.
- Unverified claims: Conflicting accusations make it difficult to establish responsibility for the latest escalation.
The situation also carries humanitarian risks for communities in Tigray, Afar and Amhara. Any expansion of fighting could disrupt transport, access to food and medical services, and the movement of displaced people. The source material does not provide verified figures for civilian casualties or displacement from the latest clashes.
What happens next?
The next developments are likely to depend on whether Ethiopian and Eritrean forces remain in direct contact and whether the Tigray-led coalition can maintain its advances. Independent confirmation of troop movements, damage and casualties will be essential, particularly because access to conflict zones may be limited.
Diplomatic efforts would also face significant obstacles after the expulsion of diplomats and Eritrea’s announcement that it would sever ties. Regional governments and international organisations may seek to prevent a wider confrontation, but no such initiative is confirmed in the information available for this report.
For readers following Europe news and global security, the crisis is relevant because instability in the Horn of Africa can affect regional trade routes, humanitarian operations and international diplomatic efforts. It is not an EU decision or a European conflict, but its wider security and humanitarian consequences may draw attention from European governments and institutions.
Conclusion
The reported Ethiopian drone strikes on Eritrean forces near Adigrat mark a dangerous escalation in an already deteriorating relationship. The claims remain unconfirmed by the governments involved, but the combination of alleged cross-border deployments, renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and the collapse of diplomatic ties creates a serious risk of further regional instability. The immediate priority is reliable verification of events and measures to prevent the conflict from spreading.
