Witnesses Report Eritrean Troops Operating in Northern Ethiopia Amid Rising Tensions

Witnesses have reported seeing Eritrean military personnel driving through a town in northern Ethiopia, signaling a significant escalation just days after the two neighboring countries cut diplomatic relations. At least two individuals told Reuters they observed dozens of soldiers from Eritrea traveling in two trucks through Adigrat on Wednesday. The town is situated approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of the border with Eritrea.

The witnesses identified the soldiers by their distinctive off-white camouflage uniforms. Another resident of Adigrat, who was not present in the town at the time, stated that family members had also reported sightings of Eritrean troops, though Reuters has been unable to independently corroborate these accounts.

Gebreigziabher Beyene, commander of the Tigray Peace Force—a pro-government militia that has fought alongside the federal army—confirmed the presence of Eritrean forces. “The Eritrean army has entered Tigray in uniform, equipped with heavy weaponry,” Beyene said. He added that his unit is engaging the troops with drones and accused Eritrea of deliberately drawing combat into Tigrayan territory to prevent fighting from spilling across its own borders.

This development follows a claim last week by the chief administrator of Ethiopia’s northeastern Afar region, who stated that Eritrean troops were engaged in combat there. However, Reuters was unable to verify that assertion. In response to the reports on social media platform X, Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Meskel did not deny that troops had crossed the border. Instead, he accused the Ethiopian government of fabricating a narrative of “self-defense” to mask what he described as an aggressive war.

If verified, these sightings would mark the first confirmed appearance of Eritrean forces inside Ethiopia since hostilities resumed on September 23 between the Ethiopian military and a seven-group armed alliance, which includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, along with Egypt and Sudan, of supporting the rebel alliance seeking to overthrow the government; all three nations have denied these allegations.

Tensions escalated significantly last Thursday when Ethiopia announced it would close its embassy in Asmara and expel 10 Eritrean diplomats. In retaliation, Eritrea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared that it had no choice but to sever all diplomatic ties with Addis Ababa.

The military movements come shortly after Ethiopian federal forces and allied militias recaptured Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, on Monday. The TPLF had confirmed its withdrawal from the city, stating it moved its regional administration to another location on a temporary basis. The capture occurred on the same day Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for a new five-year term, during which he reaffirmed Ethiopia’s demand for access to the Red Sea.

Meanwhile, Eritrea joined Somalia, Sudan, and Egypt in issuing a joint declaration on the same day, calling for a political and peaceful resolution to the conflict. The statement appeared to challenge several policies pursued by Addis Ababa in recent years, highlighting widening rifts between Ethiopia and its neighbors.