Ethiopian forces recapture Tigray airport as regional conflict intensifies

Ethiopian government forces and their allies have recaptured an airport in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, as Tigrayan rebel forces retreat from their positions. The military offensive represents a major development in the protracted conflict that has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions across Ethiopia's northern territories.

The recapture of the strategic airport facility underscores the government's growing military advantage in the Tigray conflict, which erupted in late 2020 and has seen repeated cycles of violence despite ceasefire agreements. The advance comes as pro-government forces simultaneously intensify operations in the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions, where fighting has also escalated in recent weeks.

The broader conflict has created a humanitarian catastrophe across northern Ethiopia, with widespread reports of atrocities, famine conditions, and severe restrictions on aid access. The fighting has disrupted livelihoods, health services, and education across the region, affecting millions of civilians caught in the crossfire between multiple armed factions.

International observers have expressed concern over the resumption of large-scale fighting and called for renewed diplomatic efforts to establish a durable peace. The United Nations and regional bodies have warned that continued military escalation risks further destabilizing the Horn of Africa and deepening the humanitarian crisis affecting the affected populations.