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Ethiopian federal forces and Tigray rebels clashed in heavy combat near the Sudanese border on Saturday, raising fears of a new regional war, rebel authorities told AFP.
Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) official Amanuel Assefa confirmed ongoing artillery battles in Shererina, a disputed territory in western Tigray currently administered by Amhara nationalists.
Tensions have mounted for months as both military factions massed troops along the border, trading mutual accusations of provoking fresh hostilities.
The TPLF accused the Ethiopian government of escalating its long-standing aggression into a wide-ranging infantry offensive, while the Ethiopian military spokesperson declined to comment on the assault.
Regional experts warned that the heavy shelling marks the most severe military confrontation in northern Ethiopia since the 2022 peace agreement.
Analysts view the clash as either the opening salvo of a major campaign or an aggressive power demonstration meant to intimidate Tigrayan forces following a devastating two-year war that previously claimed over 600,000 lives.
