Ethiopia and Eritrea Exchange Accusations Over Border Incursions

Ethiopia alleges that Eritrea launched a full‑scale incursion into its northern Tigray region, stating it will defend its territory after local residents reported to the BBC that Eritrean forces had crossed the border.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopia’s foreign minister described the move as a blatant act of aggression that invokes Ethiopia’s right to self‑defence, citing recent strikes on Eritrean forces inside Tigray.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel countered that his country is confronting an unprovoked war of aggression from Ethiopia.

Hostilities between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which administers Tigray, erupted roughly two weeks prior.

Each side accuses the other of breaching the 2022 agreement that halted the civil war, with Ethiopia asserting that Eritrea supports the TPLF—a claim Eritrea rejects.

During the two‑year civil conflict, Eritrea stood as a principal ally of the Ethiopian government, fighting alongside its forces against the TPLF.

However, bilateral relations have deteriorated, primarily due to Ethiopia’s prime minister seeking control of one of Eritrea’s Red Sea ports, a dispute that culminated in the termination of diplomatic ties last week.

Accusing Eritrea of infringing on its sovereignty, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos stated that Eritrean troops had penetrated as far as 60 kilometres (approximately 37 miles) into Tigray.

Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly struck Eritrean positions in the Tigrayan town of Adigrat on Wednesday and Thursday, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.

The U.S.–based conflict monitoring group ACLED reported that Eritrean troops and ammunition supplies in Adigrat were struck by multiple drone attacks overnight.

An resident speaking to AFP described numerous drone strikes, noting that several Eritrean trucks were destroyed.

A second witness told AFP that Eritrean forces seemed to be withdrawing northward following the attacks.

To date, no verified casualty figures have emerged, and the BBC reports it lacks access to Tigray for on‑the‑ground coverage.

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