Trending 
A pro-government counter-offensive has driven Tigrayan rebels out of neighbouring Afar state, even as the escalating conflict triggers a severe diplomatic breakdown between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt.
Clashes erupted last week after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks into Afar and Amhara, prompting Addis Ababa to accuse Eritrea of backing the insurgent alliance.
In response to the rising friction, Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and shuttered its embassy in Asmara, leading Eritrea to sever all diplomatic relations.
Ethiopia also expelled an Egyptian diplomat, provoking a reciprocal expulsion from Cairo amid longstanding disputes over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and Egypt’s deepening ties with Eritrea.
On the frontlines, pro-government forces have reclaimed key Afar towns—including Abala, Erebti, and Megale—and are now advancing into Tigrayan territory along three axes toward the regional capital of Mekelle.
Humanitarian sources report that departing rebel forces raided and destroyed critical infrastructure, leaving northern communities without access to food.
Meanwhile, conflict monitors indicate that Ethiopian forces have largely repelled the broader rebel offensive, though independent verification remains difficult due to strict media blackouts and widespread communication outages.
The conflict reached unprecedented territory overnight Wednesday when suspected rebel drone strikes targeted the Ministry of Defence headquarters and an army base in Addis Ababa.
Read More : Explosion Reported at Ethiopian Army HQ
Diplomatic and local sources report that First-Person View (FPV) drones—commercial units modified with explosive charges—caused the blasts in the capital.
The attack forms part of a broader rebel drone campaign hitting military airbases and airports across Oromia and Amhara states, demonstrating the insurgents’ capacity to expand the war nationwide.
Faced with worsening volatility, the African Union has urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint.
