Ethiopia and Eritrea are on the brink of another conflict

Live updates

1. 1h ago

   Eritrean Forces Cross Into Ethiopia As Tigray Fighting Escalates

   Eritrean troops have moved deep into Ethiopia's Tigray region, prompting Ethiopia to launch a drone attack against the advancing forces and demand a full troop withdrawal. Witnesses report Eritrean units driving directly through northern Ethiopian towns as fighting intensifies. The sudden military movement shatters relative stability and brings the two neighboring nations to the brink of a new regional war. Analysts point to long-simmering tensions and unresolved territorial disputes as major catalysts for the rapid escalation.

   Why it matters

   The deployment of Eritrean troops into Ethiopian territory follows a diplomatic breakdown and the severing of ties between the two governments. A fragile peace had previously held following the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, but persistent security threats and internal conflicts in regions like Amhara and Oromia have strained the central government. Observers are also questioning whether access to the Assab Port acts as a primary strategic driver in the looming conflict.

   What is confirmed

   • Eritrean troops have moved deep into Ethiopia's Tigray region as fighting escalates.
   • Ethiopia has launched a drone attack against Eritrean troops who crossed into Tigray and demanded their withdrawal.
   • Witnesses observed Eritrean troops driving through a northern Ethiopian town.

   Still unconfirmed

   • The conflict is being driven by competition to control the Assab Port.

   What to watch next

   • Further official statements or military communiques from the Ethiopian government regarding troop movements.
   • Responses from regional bodies or international observers to the border incursions and drone strikes.
   Sources used for this update (15)

   1. BBC — Eritrean troops move deep into Ethiopia's Tigray region as fighting escalates
   2. horn review — Eritrea Has Officially Invaded Ethiopia, Says Government Communication
   3. Reuters — Eritrean troops drive through northern Ethiopian town, witnesses say
   4. Bloomberg.com — Ethiopia Accuses Eritrea of Incursion, Demands Troop Withdrawal
   5. Business Insider Africa — East Africa’s strongest military nation may be faced with an invasion from its neighbour as it faces rising security threats
   6. NBC News — Eritrean troops cross into northern Ethiopia as conflict escalates
   7. The Economist — Ethiopia and Eritrea are on the brink of another conflict
   8. The Guardian — Ethiopia launches drone attack against Eritrean troops who crossed into Tigray
   9. The Africa Report — Is Assab Port the real prize in the looming Ethiopia-Eritrea war?
   10. www.thenational.scot — Ethiopia and Eritrea on brink of war as ties are cut
   11. www.heraldscotland.com — DAVID PRATT: Are Ethiopia and Eritrea on the path to new regional war?
   12. allafrica.com — East Africa: From Tigray to the Wider Horn of Africa - Ethiopia's Converging Conflicts, Rising Regional R....
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