Brief
Witnesses say Eritrean troops entered Ethiopia’s Tigray region
Witnesses reported seeing Eritrean soldiers in Adigrat, while Eritrea blames Ethiopia for a fabricated self‑defence narrative.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Witnesses in the northern Ethiopian town of Adigrat said they saw dozens of Eritrean soldiers driving through the town in two trucks on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The town lies about 25 km south of the Eritrea‑Ethiopia border.
Two residents identified the troops by their off‑white camouflage uniforms and said the soldiers were equipped with heavy weaponry. Gebreigziabher Beyene, commander of the pro‑government Tigray Peace Force, told Reuters the Eritrean army had entered Tigray in uniform and was being struck by drones, adding that Eritrea was deliberately deploying forces to keep fighting inside Tigray.
Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Meskel posted on X that the government did not deny a crossing but accused Ethiopia of creating a “fallacious narrative of ‘self‑defence’ to rationalise and camouflage its war of aggression.” Eritrea announced it was severing diplomatic ties after Addis Ababa closed its embassy in Asmara and expelled ten Eritrean diplomats.
If confirmed, the sighting would be the first time Eritrean forces have been seen inside Ethiopia since the renewed fighting on 23 September. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of backing the seven‑group armed alliance fighting the federal government, a claim all three countries deny. The Ethiopian federal and allied forces captured the Tigray capital Mekelle on 4 October, a development reported earlier by Felo News.
Key facts
- Witnesses reported seeing dozens of Eritrean soldiers in two trucks in Adigrat, 25 km south of the border. (aljazeera.com)
- Gebreigziabher Beyene said the Eritrean army entered Tigray in uniform and was being hit by drones. (aljazeera.com)
- Eritrea’s information minister accused Ethiopia of fabricating a self‑defence narrative and announced severing diplomatic ties. (aljazeera.com)
- Ethiopia claims Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan back the armed alliance fighting the federal government; all three deny involvement. (aljazeera.com)
- Ethiopian forces captured Mekelle on 4 October 2026. (aljazeera.com)
Sources
- [1] aljazeera.com — originally reported as “Witnesses spot Eritrean troops inside northern Ethiopia as tensions flare”
