In brief
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of a full‑scale invasion in its northern Tigray region and threatened decisive action following drone strikes on Eritrean troops. In a letter to the UN Security Council, foreign minister Gedion Timothewos called the move a blatant act of aggression that obliges Ethiopia to defend its sovereignty. Meanwhile Eritrea’s Information Minister accused Ethiopia of an unprovoked war of aggression and of destabilising the neighbour. The dispute follows a history of tense relations that erupted over the control of the Red Sea port of Assab and broader regional influence. Ethiopia insists Eritrea has advanced up to 60 km into Tigray before regrouping northwards after the strikes.
Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of a full-scale invasion in its northern Tigray region and threatens to take decisive action to defend its sovereignty after drones targeted Eritrean forces in the area.
In a letter to the UN Security Council, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos described the move as a “blatant act of aggression” that obliges Ethiopia to invoke its inherent right to self‑defence, following reports of drone strikes on Eritrean troops in the town of Adigrat.
The comment comes amid escalating hostilities between the central government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which seized the regional capital Mekelle earlier this month before being pushed back.
Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel deflected the accusations, accusing Ethiopia of an “unprovoked war of aggression” and of attempting to destabilise the neighbouring state.
Historical tensions, dating back to the 1993 independence of Eritrea and the 2018 rapprochement under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, have been reignited by clashes over the control of the Red Sea port of Assab and broader regional influence.
The letter, dated 8 October, calls for “understanding, support and solidarity” from the Security Council, while Ethiopia reports that Eritrean forces had advanced up to 60 km into Tigray before regrouping northwards after drone strikes logged by Acled.
