In a new battlefield development, humanitarian sources told AFP that Tigray forces have taken control of the town of Erbti in the Afar region following heavy fighting and artillery shelling, amid reports that they are advancing eastward toward Afdera.
This comes as part of the most serious escalation between Tigray forces and Ethiopia’s federal government since the 2022 Pretoria Agreement. In recent days, Tigray forces have reportedly taken control of the main airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire, while clashes have also spread into Afar and Amhara.
Afar’s importance goes beyond the battlefield itself, as the region lies along routes connecting Ethiopia to Djibouti, through which the vast majority of the country’s foreign trade passes. Continued advances eastward could therefore place growing pressure on Ethiopia’s supply and trade routes.
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has openly expressed solidarity with the Ethiopian government and condemned attacks by the Tigray Front. Addis Ababa also maintains growing strategic ties with Israel, including security cooperation; however, the sources reviewed do not provide sufficient evidence to describe Israel as a direct military participant in the current fighting.
These developments come after seven armed groups opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government announced the formation of an alliance, increasing the risk that the conflict could once again expand into a broader war across northern Ethiopia.