Addis Ababa: The armies of Ethiopia and Eritrea launched a “massive” joint offensive against tigre People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in the northern region of Tigre on Thursday, the rebels said.
The rebels’ military command said in a statement, “The enemy, having already moved a large military force into Eritrea, has now launched a joint operation with an Eritrean foreign invading force to brutalize and destroy the people of Tigre.” can be done.”
AFP was not able to independently verify the claims. Access to northern Ethiopia is severely restricted and the Tigre has been subject to a communications blackout for more than a year.
TPLF spokesperson kinda gebrehivot told AFP the attack was coming “from Eritrea”.
Another TPLF spokesman, Getachev Reda, said on Twitter that the rebels were “defending their position” and reported “heavy shelling” from some locations.
Addis Ababa did not respond to requests for comment about the alleged offensive.
Fighting resumed last week after five months of peace between government forces and rebels.
Conflicts on the ground and air strikes on the Tigre have dashed hopes of peacefully resolving the nearly two-year war.
Combat was centered around the south-eastern border of the Tigre, with the rebels pushing into the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions, forcing the residents to flee.
The government on Wednesday accused the TPLF of launching a widespread “aggression” into parts of the Western Tigre and other areas west of the initial clashes.
The rebels in turn alleged that the government and its neighboring Eritrea – which supported Confederate forces during the early phase of the war – were responsible for opening a new front.
On Thursday, the government said the TPLF’s attacks had “intensified even further”.
“Innocent civilians are being killed, many displaced and property destroyed,” the state communications service said in a statement.
– International alarm – Fighting has spread since fighting began a week ago, while the capital of the war-torn Tigre region has received two air strikes.
First air raid on the capital of Tigre mekele At least four people, including children, died in a strike UNICEF said “hit a kindergarten”.
The TPLF said the second, around midnight Tuesday, caused injuries and damage to property.
Both sides accused each other of firing earlier and breaking the ceasefire in March, which sparked the worst bloodshed in northern Ethiopia.
The renewed fight with UN chief Antonio Guterres and senior diplomats has worried the international community The European UnionBritain and the African Union (AU) are also among those appealing for restraint.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called on the Ethiopian government and the TPLF to “immediately cease military operations and redouble efforts to end the conflict permanently”.
“We are concerned about the resumption of fighting and the risk to our lives,” he said on Twitter.
Legacy TuluA spokesman for the Ethiopian government responded on Twitter, saying: “The US government There is a need to stop the rhetoric of ‘both sides’ and condemn the disastrous path of TPLF affecting various Ethiopian communities.”
– Humanitarian Crisis – Prime Minister abi ahmedA Nobel Peace Prize laureate, sent troops to the Tigre to topple the TPLF in November 2020 in response to rebel attacks on federal army camps.
For months, his government denied the involvement of Eritrean forces in the conflict, although Abiy later acknowledged his presence in Ethiopia.
The TPLF made a surprise return in June 2021, capturing most of the Tigre and expanding into Afar and Amhara, before the fighting reached a deadlock.
An unknown number of civilians have been killed in northern Ethiopia and millions are suffering a humanitarian crisis, with conflict hampering efforts to help those in need.
The government said on Thursday that the TPLF was sending aid materials to its fighters.
US aid chief Samantha Power said humanitarian workers in Tigre, Afar and Amhara were facing “unacceptable interference – including detentions, fuel loot and vehicle seizures”.
,U said Reiterates our call to respect humanitarian work from all sides so that aid can reach those in need,” Power posted on Twitter on Wednesday.
The rebels’ military command said in a statement, “The enemy, having already moved a large military force into Eritrea, has now launched a joint operation with an Eritrean foreign invading force to brutalize and destroy the people of Tigre.” can be done.”
AFP was not able to independently verify the claims. Access to northern Ethiopia is severely restricted and the Tigre has been subject to a communications blackout for more than a year.
TPLF spokesperson kinda gebrehivot told AFP the attack was coming “from Eritrea”.
Another TPLF spokesman, Getachev Reda, said on Twitter that the rebels were “defending their position” and reported “heavy shelling” from some locations.
Addis Ababa did not respond to requests for comment about the alleged offensive.
Fighting resumed last week after five months of peace between government forces and rebels.
Conflicts on the ground and air strikes on the Tigre have dashed hopes of peacefully resolving the nearly two-year war.
Combat was centered around the south-eastern border of the Tigre, with the rebels pushing into the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions, forcing the residents to flee.
The government on Wednesday accused the TPLF of launching a widespread “aggression” into parts of the Western Tigre and other areas west of the initial clashes.
The rebels in turn alleged that the government and its neighboring Eritrea – which supported Confederate forces during the early phase of the war – were responsible for opening a new front.
On Thursday, the government said the TPLF’s attacks had “intensified even further”.
“Innocent civilians are being killed, many displaced and property destroyed,” the state communications service said in a statement.
– International alarm – Fighting has spread since fighting began a week ago, while the capital of the war-torn Tigre region has received two air strikes.
First air raid on the capital of Tigre mekele At least four people, including children, died in a strike UNICEF said “hit a kindergarten”.
The TPLF said the second, around midnight Tuesday, caused injuries and damage to property.
Both sides accused each other of firing earlier and breaking the ceasefire in March, which sparked the worst bloodshed in northern Ethiopia.
The renewed fight with UN chief Antonio Guterres and senior diplomats has worried the international community The European UnionBritain and the African Union (AU) are also among those appealing for restraint.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called on the Ethiopian government and the TPLF to “immediately cease military operations and redouble efforts to end the conflict permanently”.
“We are concerned about the resumption of fighting and the risk to our lives,” he said on Twitter.
Legacy TuluA spokesman for the Ethiopian government responded on Twitter, saying: “The US government There is a need to stop the rhetoric of ‘both sides’ and condemn the disastrous path of TPLF affecting various Ethiopian communities.”
– Humanitarian Crisis – Prime Minister abi ahmedA Nobel Peace Prize laureate, sent troops to the Tigre to topple the TPLF in November 2020 in response to rebel attacks on federal army camps.
For months, his government denied the involvement of Eritrean forces in the conflict, although Abiy later acknowledged his presence in Ethiopia.
The TPLF made a surprise return in June 2021, capturing most of the Tigre and expanding into Afar and Amhara, before the fighting reached a deadlock.
An unknown number of civilians have been killed in northern Ethiopia and millions are suffering a humanitarian crisis, with conflict hampering efforts to help those in need.
The government said on Thursday that the TPLF was sending aid materials to its fighters.
US aid chief Samantha Power said humanitarian workers in Tigre, Afar and Amhara were facing “unacceptable interference – including detentions, fuel loot and vehicle seizures”.
,U said Reiterates our call to respect humanitarian work from all sides so that aid can reach those in need,” Power posted on Twitter on Wednesday.