Ethiopian forces capture Alamata in Tigray after days of fighting
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Ethiopian government forces and allied Tigray fighters captured the strategic town of Alamata in Tigray on Monday after days of fighting with rebel forces. The capture, confirmed by video and diplomatic sources, marks a major advance in renewed hostilities that erupted last week. The fighting has shattered the 2022 Pretoria Agreement and spread across Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions.
Key Facts
- The Tigray Peace Force announced on Monday that its fighters, alongside the national army, captured Alamata, a town about 120 km south of Mekelle.
- Video verified by Reuters showed soldiers walking through Alamata carrying Ethiopian flags, and two diplomatic sources confirmed the town had fallen.
- Tigrayan rebel forces launched a major offensive last week, seizing three airports in Tigray and pushing into Afar and Amhara regions.
- TPLF forces captured Erebti, a strategically important town in Afar, over the weekend, according to an Ethiopian commander speaking to AP.
- The headquarters of Tigrai TV in Mekelle was hit by a drone on Sunday.
Capture of Alamata
The Tigray Peace Force, an armed group composed of Tigrayan fighters aligned with the federal government, said in a Facebook statement that they had captured Alamata with the national army. Alamata sits about 120 km south of Tigray's capital, Mekelle, and serves as a supply hub for troops, fuel, and food. Video verified by Reuters showed soldiers walking through Alamata carrying Ethiopian flags. Two diplomatic sources told Reuters the town had fallen, while a source linked to opposition forces said they were retreating. The capture could allow federal forces to push north towards Mekelle.
Renewed Hostilities
Fighting intensified across northern Ethiopia in the past week amid renewed hostilities between the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and its allies. The latest fighting erupted when Tigrayan rebel forces launched a major offensive, seizing three airports in Tigray and pushing into the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions. The TPLF says it is fighting a 'defensive war', accusing federal forces of attacks using drones and heavy artillery. Federal government forces and their allies have since counterattacked. The headquarters of Tigrai TV, seen as the key outlet for the rebel authorities in Mekelle, was hit by a drone on Sunday.
Regional Fronts
The fighting has occurred on several fronts across northern Ethiopia, stretching across Tigray, Amhara and Afar. TPLF forces seized Erebti, a strategically important town in the Afar region, over the weekend, according to an Ethiopian commander who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The Tigray Peace Force also acknowledged that Erebti had fallen to the TPLF but disputed reports that the takeover followed intense fighting, according to AP. A military source told Al Jazeera that government forces had already advanced and were heading towards or surrounding the Tigrayan capital.
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