Conflict & Security
15 Tigray rebel bodies found in Sudan, medic says
Fifteen bodies identified by a medical source as Tigray rebel fighters were recovered Monday from the Setit River in a Sudanese border town after renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia sent hundreds of people across the border.
The medical source at Wad al-Hulaywah hospital, speaking anonymously, said residents recovered the bodies and that the hospital also received six wounded people on Monday. Wounded Tigray People's Liberation Front fighters have been among those fleeing into Sudan.
The renewed fighting involved Ethiopia's federal forces and the TPLF in the Shererina area of northern Ethiopia near Sudan. The TPLF accused the Ethiopian government on Saturday of launching a “wide-ranging infantry offensive” after clashes broke out. The rebels said the clashes ended Sunday and did not give casualty figures. Ethiopian authorities had not commented on the allegation that the government initiated the attack.
Residents on the Sudanese side of the border reported hearing explosions and heavy gunfire during the confrontation. A witness in Hamdayet said wounded people had arrived from Ethiopia and were staying at the home of a local leader.
The violence has raised fears of renewed conflict in Tigray, where a 2020-2022 war between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan forces killed at least 600,000 people, according to the African Union. Sudan is also in a civil war between the army and paramilitaries that began in 2023, and relations between Sudan and Ethiopia are strained.
Update
A medical source said 15 bodies of Tigray rebel fighters were recovered from the Setit River on Monday.
The same medical source said Wad al-Hulaywah hospital received six wounded people on Monday.
A witness in Hamdayet said wounded people arrived from Ethiopia and were staying at the home of a local leader.
The TPLF said the clashes in the Shererina area ended on Sunday and gave no casualty figures.
Source note: AFP news report published on 3 August 2026 at 21:55:06 UTC.
Update
A TPLF member said the clashes continued until around 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
A witness said residents of al-Qudaymah village fled across the Setit River.
The item adds mutual Ethiopia-Sudan accusations from May and the UAE denial of accusations that it backs the RSF.
A witness in Wad al-Hulaywah said heavy gunfire was still audible at around 4:30 p.m. local time.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 18:53:05 UTC.
Update
Hundreds of Ethiopians from Tigray crossed into Sudan over the past two days, Sudanese security and medical sources told AFP.
A Sudanese security source in Hamdayet said arrivals from Tigray included wounded fighters.
A medical source said injured people received first aid before being transferred to al-Hashaba, 15 kilometres inside Sudan.
Residents and witnesses on the Sudanese side reported explosions, gunfire and aircraft during the fighting.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 16:50:45 UTC.
Update
Local and security sources told AFP that fighting between the Ethiopian army and Tigray rebels had ended.
A TPLF member said there was a de-escalation and gave no casualty figures.
The TPLF member said clashes involving heavy artillery and drones began at about 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and ended at about 5:00 a.m.
A security source confirmed that fighting had stopped.
Source note: AFP news report published on 2 August 2026 at 09:18:00 UTC.
Update
Amanuel Assefa said heavy artillery was involved in the fighting.
The fighting was reported in western Tigray, a disputed area administered by nationalists from neighbouring Amhara regional state.
The TPLF issued a statement accusing the federal army of launching a wide-ranging infantry offensive.
A regional specialist described the reported clash as the most serious confrontation in northern Ethiopia for some time.
The Ethiopian army spokesperson did not respond to AFP's request for comment.
Source note: AFP news report published on 1 August 2026 at 09:35:21 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The identity and affiliation of the bodies were attributed to a medical source and were not independently confirmed in the supplied material.
No official casualty figure was provided by the TPLF or Ethiopian authorities.
Ethiopian authorities had not commented on the claim that the government initiated the attack.
Source
AFP news report published on .