Ethiopian Military Claims Hundreds of TPLF Rebels Killed as Conflict Escalates

The Ethiopian military stated on Thursday that it had killed 272 members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and wounded approximately 260 others during a recent counter-offensive. The claim comes as fighting between federal troops and TPLF forces intensified, threatening to unravel the fragile peace agreement reached in 2022.

Tensions first escalated on Wednesday in the northern Tigray Region. TPLF vice president Amanuel Assefa described the current situation to AFP as “full-blown war.” The Ethiopian army reported suffering significant personnel and equipment losses against the rebels, though these figures have not been independently verified, nor has the military provided a breakdown distinguishing between combatants and civilians.

The resumption of violence has triggered immediate calls for de-escalation from the African Union, the United Nations, and other international observers. Ervin J. Massinga, the U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia, expressed disappointment in the TPLF leadership, which had been sanctioned by the United States earlier this year. He criticized the group for rejecting dialogue sponsored by the African Union under former President Olusegun Obasanjo and for engaging in what he termed an “unwinnable fight.”

While the conflict originated in Tigray, reports indicate that fighting has also spread to the Amhara region in the Ethiopian highlands. Clashes were reported near the historic town of Lalibela, home to UNESCO-listed rock-hewn churches, prompting the suspension of flights to the tourist destination on Thursday.

The TPLF, which dominated Ethiopian politics from 1991 until 2018, launched a rebellion against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2020. That conflict resulted in an estimated 500,000 deaths due to violence, famine, and collapsed health services, with Eritrean troops fighting alongside Ethiopian federal forces. In a significant shift, the TPLF has now announced an alliance with the Fano militia, a group that has been waging its own insurgency in Amhara since 2023. Despite being former enemies with competing land claims, analyst Kjetil Tronvoll noted that opposition to Prosperity Party rule is the primary bond uniting them.

Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie Amde addressed the crisis at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, condemning “forces of destruction and mayhem” and alleging interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs by adversarial elements.