Drone Strike on Tigray TV Station as Rebel Offensive Escalates in Northern Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s military commander has accused Eritrea and Sudan of supporting armed groups battling federal forces in the north, as heavy clashes resume between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the government. The renewed conflict raises fears of a return to the 2020-2022 civil war, which resulted in an estimated 600,000 deaths.

The TPLF has seized airports and launched attacks into the Afar and Amhara regions, describing its actions as a “defensive war” against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration. A humanitarian source reported that the town of Erebti in Afar fell to rebels after intense artillery fire, with the TPLF advancing toward Afdeera, approximately 100 kilometers east. At least 150,000 people have been displaced in Afar, though exact figures are uncertain.

Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, the army chief, stated on the military’s YouTube channel that the forces are fighting organized groups backed by external powers. “Neither Eritrea nor the TPLF can succeed alone without support from Sudan, Egypt, and others,” he added.

In a related development, the headquarters of Tigrai TV, a key rebel media outlet in Mekelle, was struck by a drone on Sunday. A journalist anonymously told AFP that they heard a loud explosion and fled the building. Photos from the scene showed significant damage to the facade, with windows blown out. The station, employing around 400 people, was taken off-air, but no immediate casualties were reported. The federal government had suspended Tigrai TV indefinitely on September 21 and banned other outlets from airing its content.

Communications in Tigray have been severely disrupted since Friday, with major phone and internet outages reported. This has raised concerns about a repeat of the blockade during the previous conflict, which cut off electricity, banking, and aid. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed alarm over drone use and civilian harm, calling for restraint.

The government maintains a military advantage with drones, 500,000 troops, and international support, including from the United Arab Emirates. However, the conflict risks drawing in Eritrea, which fears Ethiopia’s landlocked status might lead to an attempt to seize Red Sea access. The TPLF, which ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, was sidelined under Abiy, sparking the prior war marked by war crimes. The 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement has not been fully implemented, leaving millions displaced, and recent months have seen increased drone strikes and troop deployments. Rights groups accuse the TPLF of forced recruitment as it prepares for renewed fighting.

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