Ethiopian Forces Retake Alamata as Fighting Intensifies in Tigray

Ethiopian military forces and allied fighters have claimed control of the strategic town of Alamata in southern Tigray, marking a significant development in the renewed fighting between the federal government and Tigrayan forces.

The capture was announced on Monday by the pro-government Tigrai Peace Force, a breakaway faction of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) that is now aligned with Ethiopia’s federal government. A video released by the group showed soldiers moving through Alamata while carrying Ethiopian flags. Reuters said it could not immediately independently verify the footage.

Two diplomatic sources also told Reuters that Alamata had fallen, while another source said pro-government forces had entered the town but that it was not yet clear whether they had established complete control. A source linked to opposition forces said Tigrayan fighters were withdrawing from the town and expected federal forces to take control.

Alamata is strategically important because it sits on a major highway leading into Tigray and serves as an important supply hub for troops, food and fuel. The town is about 120 kilometres south of Mekelle, the regional capital, making its reported capture potentially significant as federal forces seek to push northwards.

The development follows a major Tigrayan offensive that began last week, with TPLF-linked forces attacking federal positions in several locations and advancing into parts of the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions. The Tigrayan forces also seized several airports in Tigray during the escalation.

The renewed fighting has shattered a four-year-old peace arrangement reached in Pretoria, South Africa, in 2022 that ended the devastating 2020-2022 Tigray war. That conflict caused a major humanitarian crisis and large-scale displacement across northern Ethiopia.

The latest fighting has also raised concerns about a broader regional conflict. Ethiopia’s army chief, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, has accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting Tigrayan forces, allegations that have been denied by Eritrea and Sudan. Egypt has not immediately responded to the accusations.

Communications have also been disrupted in Tigray amid the fighting, with internet and telephone networks reported down for several days. Reuters reported that the disruption has complicated efforts to independently assess developments on the battlefield.

The fighting has already produced significant numbers of casualties. The humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières reported a sharp increase in wounded patients arriving at hospitals in northern Ethiopia, while the wider conflict has displaced large numbers of people and raised fears of a return to the humanitarian conditions seen during the previous war.

For now, reports of Alamata’s capture represent a battlefield reversal for Tigrayan forces, which had made advances against government positions earlier in the latest offensive. The situation remains fluid, with communications disruptions and conflicting claims making independent confirmation of battlefield movements difficult.