Drone Hits Tigray TV Station as Rebels Push North

Drone hits Tigray TV station as rebels push north (News Central TV) Drone hits Tigray TV station as rebels push north (News Central TV)
Smoke billows from the scene of an air strike in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, Ethiopia, on October 20, 2021. Credit: REUTERS

A drone strike targeted the headquarters of Tigray TV in Mekelle on Sunday as heavy fighting resumed between Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces and federal troops in northern Ethiopia.

The attack blew out windows and blackened the facade of the key rebel-aligned broadcasting facility, knocking the station off the air.

Describing the strike, a journalist told AFP, “We heard a loud bang from a drone strike elsewhere, and we fled the building.”

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Simultaneously, TPLF forces made significant advances into the neighbouring Afar region, capturing the border town of Erebti following heavy artillery bombardment and moving east toward Afdeera.

TPLF leaders framed their rapid offensive into Afar and Amhara as a “defensive war” against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, aiming to sever vital Djibouti trade corridors.

Drone hits Tigray TV station as rebels push north (News Central TV)
Drone hits Tigray TV station as rebels push north. Credit: Al Jazeera

The escalating conflict has already displaced an estimated 150,000 people in Afar, sparking intense fears of a return to full-scale civil war.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a warning on Friday, with his spokesperson stating he was “particularly troubled by reports of the use of drones as well as incidents of harm to civilians.”

Broad telecommunications outages across Tigray have severely hampered communications, while residents fear a renewal of the severe federal blockades that devastated the region during the 2020–2022 conflict.

Author

  • Abisoye Adeyiga

    Abisoye Adedoyin Adeyiga holds a PhD in Languages and Media Studies and a Master’s in Education (English Language). Trained in digital marketing and investigative journalism, she is passionate about new media’s transformative power. She enjoys reading, traveling, and meaningful conversations.

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