Ethiopian drone strikes have targeted Eritrean military forces positioned inside the northern Tigrayan city of Adigrat, according to witnesses and a conflict monitor. The strikes, which occurred overnight between Wednesday and Thursday, have intensified fears that the ongoing domestic conflict in Ethiopia could escalate into a broader regional war.
The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), a prominent conflict monitor, reported that multiple drone strikes hit "Eritrean troops and ammunition" in the Adigrat area. Local residents confirmed the bombardment, with one witness reporting a massive explosion during the night and seeing drone-damaged Eritrean military vehicles. Another anonymous source stated that several Eritrean lorries were destroyed and cleared from the streets, while a third observed Eritrean forces appearing to retreat back toward the north.
These military actions come amid a major offensive by a seven-group rebel coalition led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Since launching its push last week, the coalition has been fighting Ethiopian federal forces across northern regions, including Amhara and Afar. Eritrean troops reportedly crossed the border earlier this week to take up positions around Adigrat.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated sharply, culminating in a complete severance of diplomatic ties last week. Addis Ababa has accused Asmara of backing the Tigrayan rebels. In response, Eritrea claims Ethiopia is seeking a pretext to invade its territory to secure direct access to the Red Sea. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel stated on social media platform X that Ethiopia is "openly working to bring about regime change in Eritrea by providing shelter and support to certain mercenaries who claim to be opposition." Neither government has officially responded to inquiries regarding the recent drone strikes.
The two Horn of Africa nations share a volatile history, including a bloody border war from 1998 to 2000. Eritrea originally gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, which landlocked Ethiopia by cutting off its direct Red Sea access. Following decades of hostility, relations temporarily thawed after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took office in 2018, an achievement that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. Eritrea even allied with Ethiopian federal forces during the 2020–2022 civil war against the TPLF.
However, the alliance quickly fractured after the peace deal that concluded the civil war. Eritrea expressed dissatisfaction with the agreement's terms, and tensions flared further when Abiy asserted Ethiopia's historical right to sea access, eventually describing Eritrea's independence as a "mistake." Ethiopia also accused Eritrean forces of committing atrocities against civilians during the Tigray conflict, which Eritrea dismissed as "false flags" meant to justify a new war. In February, Addis Ababa accused Eritrea of launching a cross-border incursion, and last Thursday, Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats, prompting Eritrea to officially sever all remaining diplomatic ties.
