ADDIS ABABA — The Ethiopian National Defense Force stated on Thursday that it had killed 272 Tigrayan rebel fighters in an operation within the Amhara region, Ethiopia’s second-most populous area. The military action was a direct response to an offensive launched by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) the previous day.
The confrontation occurred in North Wollo Zone, a part of Amhara that shares a border with Tigray. According to an army statement, TPLF forces attacked multiple locations in the zone, leading to a government counter-offensive that inflicted heavy losses. The rebels reportedly suffered 272 fatalities and 260 wounds, though these figures could not be independently verified. No casualty figures were released for federal forces or civilians.
Separately, fighting has been reported in Lalibela, also located in North Wollo Zone and home to Ethiopia’s renowned medieval rock churches, which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. The area has frequently been targeted by the Fano armed group, now operating in alliance with the TPLF. A foreign security source based in Ethiopia confirmed to AFP that flights have been suspended at Lalibela Airport amid the ongoing violence.
