Ethiopian Forces Expand Control in Tigray as Militias Claim Eritrea Caused Damage

Eritrea denies troop movements in northern Ethiopia, as the United States calls for de-escalation.

Ethiopian forces and allied fighters say they have expanded their control across Tigray and entered the historic city of Axum as fighting continues in the northern region.

Pro-government militias, the Tigray Peace Forces (TPF), also claimed on Thursday that troops from neighboring Eritrea had retreated to the border.

TPF spokesman Solomon Hailemariam said Eritrean forces suffered significant casualties during the fighting.

But Eritrean Information Minister Yaman Gebermaskel called the claims false in comments made by local media. The amount of reported damages cannot be independently verified.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) Project, an independent conflict monitoring organization, documented Ethiopian government forces and TPF fighters entering Aksum, while rival Tigrayan fighters remained in the surrounding mountainous areas.

ACLED also reported that Eritrean forces withdrew from the border through Zalambessa following the advance of Ethiopian forces and their allies into several strategic towns.

"Ethiopian soldiers are on one side and Eritrean forces are on the other side," Salam, a resident of Zalembasa, whose first name has been changed for security reasons, told Ambassador Arjan on Thursday.

Ambassador Arjan reported that there is currently no conflict, but the city has been without electricity and water for a week.

Salem to Ambassador Arjan: "We are caught in the middle and live in deep anxiety.

ACLED also said Ethiopian tanks and heavy weapons were moving toward the Eritrean border on Tuesday, raising concerns about a possible confrontation between the neighboring countries.

Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea, as well as Sudan and Egypt, of supporting the seven-group rebel alliance fighting Abiy Ahmed's government.

Eritrea has denied accusations that its troops entered Tigray to support armed opposition groups and accused Ethiopia of threatening its sovereignty.

Eritrea, which fought alongside Ethiopia's federal army in the 2020-2022 war, severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia over the allegations earlier this month.

Khartoum and Cairo have also denied involvement in the conflict.

The TPF supports the Federal Government of Ethiopia in its fight against Tigray rebels linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

Ethiopian forces captured the regional capital of Tigray, Mekele, earlier this month, and the TPLF confirmed it had withdrawn from the city and moved its regional administration "temporarily". Government forces also recaptured the towns of Adwa and Adigarat from the TPLF without a fight. In addition, there are reports of Ethiopian advances in the town of Rama, near the border with Eritrea.

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for de-escalation in a phone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy following reports of alleged clashes between Ethiopian and Eritrean forces.

Rubio said the region could not tolerate more conflict, according to a statement from the US State Department.