Government forces in Ethiopia have launched a drone attack against Eritrean troops that crossed into the Tigray region, escalating tensions that could lead to renewed internal conflict and potentially a regional war. The attack occurred after military vehicles carrying Eritrean soldiers entered Ethiopia's Tigray region on Wednesday, reaching the town of Adigrat, approximately 25 miles south of the border.

Context of the Conflict

According to civilian witnesses, a militia commander, and the conflict monitoring group Acled, Eritrean troops were targeted by Ethiopian government drones on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. The historical enmity between Eritrea and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has been exacerbated by Eritrea's concerns over a potential Ethiopian invasion aimed at accessing the Red Sea.

In the past two weeks, the TPLF, along with six other armed groups, has engaged in combat with the Ethiopian government in Tigray and neighboring regions, Amhara and Afar. Ethiopia's military has pushed back, and an allied militia, the Tigray Peace Force, took control of Tigray’s regional capital, Mekelle, on October 4 after the TPLF withdrew.

Statements from Officials

Yemane Gebremeskel, Eritrea’s information minister, stated, "We are not in the business of refuting wild allegations or narratives," without confirming or denying the presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia. In a statement on Monday, Ethiopia’s foreign ministry emphasized its readiness to defend its sovereignty and called for regional actors to engage in constructive dialogue rather than confrontation.