Eritrean Troops Reportedly Move Into Ethiopia’s Tigray as Fighting Escalates

Eritrean soldiers have reportedly been seen moving through the northern Ethiopian town of Adigrat in Tigray, raising fears that the renewed fighting in the region could develop into a wider conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Two residents told Reuters they saw two trucks carrying dozens of Eritrean soldiers travelling through Adigrat on Wednesday morning. Another resident said relatives had also reported seeing Eritrean troops in the town, which lies about 25 kilometres south of the Eritrean border.

The reported sightings would represent the first confirmation of Eritrean forces on Ethiopian territory during the latest conflict, although Reuters said it was unable to independently verify the witnesses’ accounts. The residents spoke anonymously because of security concerns.

Eritrea has strongly denied deploying troops into Tigray. Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel described the reports as part of what he called an Ethiopian attempt to create a justification for a war against Eritrea.

The allegations come as fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and an alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has intensified. The latest round of violence began on September 23 and has spread across parts of Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions.

Ethiopian government forces and allied fighters have made significant advances in Tigray, while the TPLF and allied groups have resisted the federal offensive. Reuters reported earlier that pro-government forces had advanced towards Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital, before government-allied forces regained control of the city.

The renewed fighting represents the most serious escalation since the 2020-2022 Tigray war, which caused a major humanitarian crisis and resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, according to estimates cited by international organisations and news agencies.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing the armed opposition alliance. Eritrea has rejected the accusations. Ethiopia has also accused Sudan and Egypt of supporting opposition forces, allegations that both countries have denied.

The tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara have already spilled into the diplomatic sphere. Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara, while Eritrea subsequently severed diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

The two countries have a long history of conflict. Eritrea became independent from Ethiopia in 1993 after a decades-long struggle, while the two neighbours fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 that killed tens of thousands of people. Relations improved significantly in 2018 before deteriorating again during the Tigray war.

Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops during the previous Tigray conflict. Ethiopia, UN experts and human rights organisations have also previously said some Eritrean troops remained in parts of northern Tigray after the war, an allegation Asmara denied.

The latest reports have heightened concerns that the conflict could expand beyond Ethiopia’s borders and destabilise the wider Horn of Africa. The United States has urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise restraint, warning that a broader conflict would threaten cooperation with both countries.

For now, the reported movement of Eritrean soldiers into Adigrat remains disputed. Eritrea denies the deployment, while witnesses and a local official have reported seeing Eritrean troops in the area. The situation remains fluid as fighting continues across northern Ethiopia.