Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of an “all‑out invasion” of its Tigray region and warns it will defend itself after troops reportedly crossed the border.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos described the incursion as a “blatant act of aggression” that obliges Ethiopia to exercise its inherent right of self‑defence. Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel replied that the country is facing an “unprovoked war of aggression” from its neighbour.
The clash follows a two‑week‑old fight between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Both sides blame the other for violating a 2022 peace deal that ended the civil war, with Ethiopia alleging Eritrean support for the TPLF – a claim Eritrea denies.
Eritrea had been a key ally of the Ethiopian army during the civil war but relations have soured since the arrival of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, largely over Ethiopia’s push to control one of Eritrea’s ports. Diplomatic ties were severed last week.
Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly hit Eritrean forces in Adigrat over two nights, destroying tanks and supply trucks. Residents described “many, many drone strikes” and noted that some Eritrean lorries were destroyed; witnesses suggest the troops began to retreat north.
A BBC map shows Ethiopia’s northern states and Eritrea’s border, highlighting the strategic relevance of the region in the Horn of Africa. 
The TPLF withdrew its forces from Mekelle – the former capital of the Tigray region – on Friday, which is now under federal control. The escalating tensions risk a wider regional war, prompting closer monitoring by international observers.
As both countries exchange accusations, the world watches to see whether Nairobi or Addis Ababa can avert a fresh crisis that could destabilise the already volatile Horn of Africa.
