- Artillery strikes in Alamata resulted in the deaths of 11 people and injuries to 15 others during a Saturday market.
- The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is advancing towards the regional capital Mekelle.
- Tigrayan forces are reportedly defending the towns of Mekoni and Maychew in southern Tigray.
- Tigrayan forces have advanced into the Afar region, controlling the area around Erebti.
- The 2020-2022 war resulted in the deaths of between 162,000 and 600,000 people due to the conflict over Tigray's political status.
- The war concluded in November 2022 with the Pretoria Agreement, but many key provisions remain unimplemented.
- A power struggle within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has led to a hardline faction reasserting control, straining relations with the federal government.
- Tensions have escalated, leading to renewed clashes between Tigrayan and federal forces since August 2026.
Fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region has intensified, with the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) advancing toward the regional capital, Mekelle. Reports indicate that artillery strikes on a market in Alamata killed 11 civilians and injured 15 others during peak hours when many were shopping.12
A local resident recounted, "The attacks… were acts of retaliation against the people of Alamata," suggesting that civilians were deliberately targeted. Another resident noted the timing of the attack, stating, "The attack had deliberately been timed to maximize civilian casualties during the opening hours of a market."
The ongoing conflict has roots in the brutal 2020-2022 war, which resulted in an estimated between 162,000 and 600,000 deaths. Although the war ended with the Pretoria Agreement in November 2022, key provisions remain unimplemented, leading to renewed tensions and clashes since August 2026.568
Local sources report that the ENDF has made significant advances, including the capture of Alamata, a strategically important town located about 120 kilometers south of Mekelle. However, the federal government and Tigrayan forces continue to accuse each other of aggression, complicating the humanitarian situation for civilians caught in the crossfire.34
As the conflict escalates, civilians are increasingly vulnerable, with reports of heavy weaponry shelling and a lack of access to medical facilities exacerbating the crisis.
“A 22-year-old woman from Selenwuha told DW she lost six family members to shelling, with survivors confined at home and no access to medical facilities. The ICRC has evacuated only around 160 individuals from Tigray, including Ethiopian Federal Police personnel, Ethiopian Airlines staff and African Union monitors.”
DW.com
BBC
