Ethiopian Army Reaches Eritrean Border After Counteroffensive, Raising Fears of War

Ethiopian government forces reached the border with Eritrea on October 13 during a counteroffensive against rebels in the Tigray region, heightening the risk of a new armed conflict between the two countries.

Reuters reported this, citing six sources, including a diplomat, a conflict expert and people in contact with local residents.
According to the news agency, the Ethiopian army reached Zalambessa, a border town with a population of about 15,000 previously controlled by Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels.

The advance followed government forces’ recapture of several towns, forcing the rebels to retreat north.

Last week, witnesses said Eritrean troops crossed the border and entered Zalambessa to support the rebels. It is unclear whether they remained in the town when the Ethiopian army arrived.

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting the rebels and invading Ethiopian territory to a depth of up to 60 kilometers. Asmara denies the allegations and views Addis Ababa’s statements as tantamount to a declaration of war.

Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh has called on the UN Security Council to act against Ethiopia under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows for sanctions and military measures.

Amid the escalating tensions, the UN Security Council was scheduled to hold closed consultations on the conflict in the Horn of Africa on October 13.

Militarnyi previously reported that Eritrea had begun secretly moving military units into Ethiopia’s Tigray region in early October.

According to local residents, Eritrean troops moved from Zalambessa through Adigrat toward Edaga Hamus. Witnesses reported convoys of dozens of trucks carrying troops and heavy weapons. However, the BBC could not independently verify these accounts.

The latest round of fighting in Tigray began on September 23, after a rebel alliance led by the TPLF launched an offensive. By October 4, government forces and allied groups had regained control of Mekelle, the regional capital.

During the previous war in Tigray in 2020–2022, Eritrea fought alongside Ethiopia’s federal government against the TPLF. However, relations between the two countries gradually deteriorated after they signed the Pretoria peace agreement.

One source of tension remains Ethiopia’s ambition to regain access to the Red Sea, which it lost when Eritrea gained independence in 1993. Eritrean authorities view Addis Ababa’s statements on the issue as a threat to the country’s sovereignty.

Militarnyi examined the background to the conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, the situation in Tigray, and the influence of regional powers in its article, “Powder Keg of the Horn of Africa: Tigray, Eritrea and the UAE’s Proxy War Against Saudi Arabia.”