Conflict & Security
Ethiopian army says 272 Tigray rebels killed
Ethiopia’s army said Thursday that it had killed 272 Tigrayan rebel fighters after a renewed offensive spread into the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.
The Ethiopian National Defence Force said in a Facebook statement that forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front attacked several areas of North Wollo Zone in Amhara, which borders Tigray. It said government forces launched a counter-offensive that caused losses to TPLF personnel and equipment, including 272 killed and 260 wounded.
AFP could not independently verify the figures. The army did not give casualty numbers for federal forces or civilians.
Tigray People’s Liberation Front vice president Amanuel Assefa told AFP earlier Thursday that Tigrayan forces were in a state of “full-blown war” with Ethiopia’s federal government and were fighting alongside local armed groups in Afar and Amhara.
The TPLF, which dominates northern Tigray, seized control of three airports from federal police on Wednesday and launched attacks into Afar and Amhara, according to the earlier account.
A humanitarian source in Afar told AFP there were heavy artillery attacks by the rebels on Thursday as they tried to take control of Yallo, near the Tigray border. A foreign security source said the TPLF took control of Abala on Wednesday and that there was fighting around Weldiya in Amhara, one of the routes to Addis Ababa. A TPLF source said rebels had seized several other towns in Afar, but that claim could not be confirmed.
AFP also received reports of fighting in Lalibela, in North Wollo Zone, an area known for medieval rock churches that are UNESCO World Heritage sites. A foreign security source based in Ethiopia told AFP that flights had been suspended at Lalibela’s airport.
The two sides accuse each other of triggering the return to open conflict. Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie Amde told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that Ethiopia faced “forces of destruction and mayhem” and “interference in our internal affairs by adversarial elements.” The US embassy said it was disappointed to see the TPLF leadership launch what it called a large-scale offensive.
The TPLF and Ethiopia’s federal government fought a 2020-2022 civil war that killed more than 600,000 people, according to African Union estimates. The Pretoria Peace Agreement ended that war, but tensions have risen again, and around one million people remain displaced from the previous conflict.
Update
Ethiopia's army said it killed 272 Tigrayan rebel fighters in a counter-offensive in Amhara.
The army said 260 TPLF fighters were wounded.
The army said TPLF forces attacked several areas of North Wollo Zone in Amhara.
AFP could not independently verify the army's casualty figures.
AFP received reports of fighting in Lalibela, and a foreign security source said flights were suspended at Lalibela's airport.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 September 2026 at 12:09:34 UTC.
Update
TPLF vice president Amanuel Assefa told AFP that Tigrayan forces are in a state of “full-blown war” with Ethiopia's federal government.
A humanitarian source in Afar reported heavy artillery attacks by Tigray rebels as they tried to take Yallo.
Assefa confirmed Tigrayan forces were fighting alongside local armed groups in Afar and Amhara.
A foreign security source said there was fighting around the Amhara town of Weldiya.
The US embassy said it was disappointed to see TPLF leadership launch a large-scale offensive.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 September 2026 at 08:49:57 UTC.
Update
The European Union said it was deeply concerned by the rapidly deteriorating situation and called for de-escalation.
ACLED warned that the episode could raise concern that other groups in the new alliance may act in their own areas.
The item adds that Ethiopia’s federal government has significant military advantages after increasing military drone production.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 September 2026 at 19:47:54 UTC.
Update
TPLF vice president Amanuel Assefa said the fighting was “the beginning of the war” and said he did not see the possibility of de-escalation.
Assefa said Tigrayan forces seized airports in Mekelle, Shire and Axum and took prisoner the small number of federal police guarding them.
Conflict monitor ACLED said Tigrayan forces attacked positions in Amhara and were working alongside the Fano insurgent group.
The African Union called for an immediate de-escalation of hostilities.
The source adds context on the Alliance for Survival and renewed clashes since late 2025.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 September 2026 at 15:38:47 UTC.
Update
Humanitarian staff said fighting broke out late Tuesday in Abala and Erebti in Afar between TPLF and federal forces.
A foreign security source said the TPLF was in control of Abala.
Tigrayan forces seized control of airports in Mekelle and Shire, and reportedly also Axum, while Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to all three.
A former TPLF senior official claimed rebels controlled several towns in Afar, but AFP could not confirm that claim.
The Tigray regional government said it was responding to federal bombardments, which AFP could not independently verify.
Source note: AFP news report published on 23 September 2026 at 11:50:32 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
AFP could not independently verify the Ethiopian army's casualty figures.
No casualty figures were supplied for federal forces or civilians.
Claims that the TPLF seized several additional towns in Afar could not be confirmed.
The two sides accuse each other of triggering the renewed open conflict.
Source
AFP news report published on .