Ethiopian government forces and allied militias have claimed they retook Alula Aba Nega International Airport in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, following heavy fighting with forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
AFP reported that pro-government militias said they had seized the airport, a key entry point near Mekelle, after TPLF forces launched attacks in Tigray and in neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.
The Tigray Peace Forces, an armed group allied with the Ethiopian government, also said it had taken full control of Mekelle airport and was beginning operations aimed at securing the city.
Reuters reported, however, that Ethiopia’s federal government had not immediately issued an official confirmation of the claim. There was also no independent verification that TPLF forces had been completely pushed out of Mekelle.
The renewed fighting marks the most serious escalation in Tigray since the 2020–2022 Tigray war, which ended with a peace agreement in Pretoria, South Africa.
The conflict left hundreds of thousands of people dead or displaced and created deep political and security tensions between the federal government and Tigray authorities.
The latest escalation reportedly began after TPLF forces seized several airports in Tigray last week and expanded fighting into parts of neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.
The developments have raised fears that the region could again become the center of a wider conflict.
The crisis has also taken on a regional dimension. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, while tensions have increased with neighboring Sudan and Egypt.
Addis Ababa has previously warned against what it considers external interference in its internal affairs.
The renewed clashes are particularly sensitive because the Pretoria peace agreement was intended to end the Tigray conflict and establish a framework for political dialogue and disarmament.
Any prolonged fighting could further undermine that agreement and worsen an already fragile security situation in northern Ethiopia.
For now, reports of government-aligned forces taking Mekelle airport remain subject to independent verification, while the situation on the ground remains fluid.