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Government forces seize capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region from rebels
Government forces and allied militias retook the Tigray capital after the TPLF said it had withdrawn, raising fears of wider regional conflict.
Ethiopian government forces and allied Tigray Peace Forces regained control of Mekelle on Saturday, dealing a major setback to the opposition Tigray People's Liberation Front .
The TPLF launched a major offensive on September 23 but retreated from Mekelle, posting on Facebook that regional government operations would temporarily relocate elsewhere.
Pro-Government fighters entered Mekelle's city center Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military. A humanitarian worker and local resident confirmed federal forces now control the capital.
Federal officials in Addis Ababa severed diplomatic ties last week with Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt, accusing them of supporting the rebel alliance; all three countries deny the allegations.
Analysts warn this fighting represents the worst escalation since the 2020–2022 civil war, with fears the conflict could expand into a wider regional war involving neighboring countries.
After months of tension, fighting resumed at the end of September in northern Ethiopia, between the federal army and the Tigray People's Liberation Front.
Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigray (TPLF), which opposes the federal government, abandons the city of Mekelle and advocates moving towards guerrilla warfare tactics