TPLF Rebels Seize Tigray Airports Amid Renewed Fighting
Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights in Tigray after rebels captured key airports, triggering fresh clashes in neighboring regions.
Key points
- TPLF rebels seized control of Mekelle, Axum, and Shire airports, prompting the suspension of commercial flights.
- Clashes have expanded beyond Tigray into the Afar and Amhara regions, marking a significant escalation in violence.
- The TPLF formed a new alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, citing the illegitimacy of the recent election.
Fighting has resumed in northern Ethiopia as members of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) reportedly took control of regional airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire. Local witnesses indicated that the rebels, armed with light weapons, secured the airport in Mekelle without significant resistance, leading to immediate operational disruptions.
The escalation prompted Ethiopian Airlines to cancel all services at these locations due to the volatile security situation. This development marks a significant intensification of hostilities, with government troops now reporting engagements with rebel forces in the adjacent Afar and Amhara regions, raising concerns about a broader regional conflict.
Strategic infrastructure under rebel control
According to reports from the field, the seizure of these airfields represents a tactical shift in the ongoing instability. The TPLF had previously been excluded from controlling these assets, which were managed by the central government. The capture of Mekelle Airport, the capital’s primary aviation hub, underscores the rebels' ability to project power within the region despite prior peace agreements.
The African Union has noted that the 2020-2022 civil war resulted in approximately 600,000 deaths and left over one million people displaced. While the Pretoria Peace Agreement was intended to stabilize the area, the recent resumption of drone strikes by government forces in 2025 suggests that a durable cessation of hostilities has not been achieved.
Political alliances challenge central authority
The military actions follow the TPLF's announcement of a new
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his Prosperity Party secured reelection in June, though the vote was boycotted by major opposition factions. The TPLF, which governed Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018, views the current administration as illegitimate. An advisor to the Prime Minister described the recent offensives as heartbreaking, accusing the rebels of launching a genocidal invasion against government positions in Afar and Amhara.
Diplomatic tensions and regional implications
Ethiopian authorities have accused the TPLF of coordinating with neighboring Eritrea and other armed groups to destabilize the region. The Tigray government, however, maintains that its forces are engaged in a defensive battle against an unprovoked attack. As stated in a public communication, the Tigray army has been instructed to counter what it describes as an external invasion.
The situation remains fluid, with both sides claiming legitimacy and military necessity. The international community is monitoring the escalation closely, given the potential for the conflict to spill over into neighboring countries. The closure of key airports also disrupts humanitarian logistics, complicating relief efforts for the displaced population.
