Airstrikes, artillery hit north Ethiopia as government and rebels clash, sources say
Renewed fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and Tigrayan rebels has resulted in airstrikes and artillery exchanges in northern Ethiopia. The conflict has raised regional concerns, with neighboring countries reportedly discussing coordinated military responses.
Why it matters
The escalation threatens to destabilize the Horn of Africa and risks a return to the large-scale humanitarian crisis seen during the 2020-2022 civil war.
Airstrikes and artillery fire rocked northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region overnight into Monday (October 5, 2026), aid sources said, in clashes between federal government and rebel forces that have raised fears of wider fighting.
Air attacks killed at least 17 people northwest of Tigray’s capital Mekelle — which federal government forces took over the weekend — according to a bulletin circulated among humanitarian groups.
The bulletin added that the government forces exchanged artillery fire with fighters loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front — part of a rebel alliance aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
Spokespeople for Mr. Abiy’s office, the federal Ethiopian National Defence Force and the TPLF did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the reports, which Reuters could not confirm independently.
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