Ethiopian gov’t forces advance in Tigray as rebels retreat: What to know
Ethiopian government forces have recaptured the main airport in Mekelle as fighting intensifies against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The conflict, which has shattered a 2022 peace agreement, raises concerns about regional instability in the Horn of Africa.
Why it matters
The escalation of this conflict threatens humanitarian stability and risks drawing neighboring nations into a wider regional war.
Military and pro-government forces recapture main airport in Tigray’s capital as fighting also rages in Amhara and Afar regions.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Vehicles carrying armed men drive along a street in Alamata, Ethiopia [File: Screengrab/social media via Reuters] By AFP and Reuters Published On 3 Oct 2026 3 Oct 2026 Ethiopia’s military and pro-government forces have recaptured the main airport in Mekelle , the capital of Tigray, as the government forces advanced in the northern region after more than a week of intense fighting.
Fighting erupted last week between the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its allies, shattering the fragile Pretoria Agreement, a peace deal signed in November 2022.
The fighting has stoked fears that it could escalate into a wider regional conflict, potentially drawing in neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa.
Also covering this story
5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Ethiopia's Tigray rebels abandon regional capital as govt advances: journalist
Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as Tigray conflict escalates
Ethiopia Tigray rebels pushed back as regional tensio
Ethiopia's Tigray rebels abandon regional capital as government advances
How the fighting in Ethiopia spread beyond Tigray, in maps and charts - Al Jazeera
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