Tigray Rebels Abandon Mekelle as Ethiopian Forces Advance

Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias entered Mekelle after Tigray People’s Liberation Front fighters and leaders reportedly abandoned the regional capital. Fighting began on September 23 when the TPLF attacked neighboring Afar and Amhara states, prompting a government counter-offensive. Residents feared looting and lawlessness as police stations and government offices were left unguarded. The conflict has revived memories of Ethiopia’s devastating 2020–2022 civil war and worsened tensions with Eritrea and Egypt, amid severe communications blackouts and restricted media access there.