Ethiopia vs. Tigray: Escalating Tensions Spark New War Concerns

Wed Sep 23 2026 22:28:44 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Ethiopia and the Tigray region accuse each other of launching new offensives, sparking fears of a return to full‑scale conflict. Find out what’s happening and why it matters on SnapScope.

Ethiopia’s government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have accused one another of new attacks, reigniting tensions after a two‑year ceasefire ended in 2022. Reports include drone strikes, airport seizures, and an alliance of six rebel groups planning to topple the Addis Ababa government. International actors urge de‑escalation, while the U.S. condemns the TPLF’s large‑scale offensive as ‘unwinnable’. The conflict’s humanitarian toll is staggering, with millions displaced and famine a looming threat.

Ethiopia vs. Tigray: Escalating Tensions Spark New War Concerns

The Ethiopian government and the Tigray region’s ruling party are exchanging accusations of new attacks, reigniting fears that full‑scale war could return.

Getachew Reda, a federal cabinet minister, claimed Tigrayan fighters had taken control of key airports and launched attacks in the Afar and Amhara regions. Earlier this year the Tigray authorities said their troops were in a defensive war after a series of drone strikes.

The two‑year war that ended in 2022 left an estimated 600,000 people dead. Since then both sides accuse each other of breaking the peace deal. On Sunday the TPLF announced an alliance with six other rebel groups, aiming to oust Addis Ababa’s government.

"It is rather heartbreaking to learn that, despite efforts by many, the TPLF leadership launched an all‑out offensive,” Reda said on social media. He added that he had previously led Tigray’s interim administration before falling out with the TPLF in 2025 and joining the federal government.

Ethiopian Airlines has cancelled all flights to Tigray following the seizure of Mekelle’s airport by Tigrayan forces. The UN, African Union, and U.S. officials have urged an immediate de‑escalation and a return to talks.

The U.S. ambassador to Ethiopia condemned the TPLF’s large‑scale offensive as an "unwinnable fight" and called for a swift dialogue. The U.S. State Department also condemned a separate drone strike that targeted a Catholic food‑aid convoy.

In the days after the attacks, the Tigrayan government blamed the Ethiopian federal forces for an "open invasion" and claimed that critical infrastructure had been disrupted. The tension comes after Famine warnings in the region and the ongoing struggle to enforce the Pretoria Agreement that ended the civil war.

This conflict remains one of the most intense in Africa since the 21st century, with a fragile peace that now feels distant. Stay tuned on SnapScope for quick updates and interactive quizzes to test what you’ve learned about the Ethiopian conflict.