Ethiopian forces retake Mekelle airport as fighting spreads across Tigray, Amhara and Afar
Ethiopian federal forces and pro-government fighters have recaptured Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the main city in the northern Tigray region, as fighting continues to intensify across northern Ethiopia. The airport is about 10 kilometres from the centre of Mekelle and was one of three airfields in the region seized by rebel forces at the start of the latest clashes. Reports from local sources say fighters linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front were seen pulling back from the city as the airport changed hands.
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A source with knowledge of events in Mekelle and a humanitarian source said Ethiopian troops had regained control of the airport. A resident who asked not to be named for security reasons said gunfire could be heard outside the city centre, while another local source said some TPLF fighters were abandoning their posts and heading home. A local journalist also told AFP that TPLF militants and leaders were leaving Mekelle, and said government offices and police stations had been left without security personnel.
The reports point to a fast-moving security situation in a city where access remains tightly restricted and communications have been disrupted. Residents quoted in the reporting said they feared looting of government and public property, and warned that lawlessness could spread if security forces do not return quickly. The recapture of the airport is significant because it suggests federal forces are pressing deeper into Tigrayan territory after more than a week of intense fighting.
The latest clashes began last week between the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People's Liberation Front and its allies, shattering the Pretoria Agreement signed in November 2022. That deal had been intended to end the war between federal forces and the TPLF-led side after the 2020-2022 civil war. The renewed fighting has raised fears of a wider regional conflict, with the latest battles reported not only in Tigray but also in the neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.
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The conflict has broader implications because the fighting is unfolding across several fronts in northern Ethiopia, an area that has already seen repeated displacement, insecurity and contested control in recent years. The reported advance on Mekelle comes after rebel forces seized airports in the region at the start of the offensive on September 23, showing how quickly control of key infrastructure has shifted. The airport's recapture may affect military logistics, civilian movement and the ability of either side to project authority in the region.
The TPLF remains a central actor in the conflict, having led the Tigray side in the earlier war with federal forces. The current fighting also involves pro-government forces and the Ethiopian military, which have been advancing on multiple axes towards Mekelle according to the reporting. The situation is further complicated by the lack of independent access to the area, making it difficult to verify the full extent of territorial changes or the condition of public institutions in the city.
What remains unclear is whether federal forces will move beyond the airport and how firmly they can hold the site. It is also not yet clear how much of the reported TPLF withdrawal reflects a tactical retreat or a broader collapse of positions in Mekelle. Further developments will depend on whether the fighting spreads further, whether official statements are issued, and whether access to the city improves enough to confirm the scale of the shift on the ground.
Ethiopian federal forces and pro-government fighters have recaptured Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the main city in the northern Tigray region. Reports from local sources say fighters linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front were seen pulling back from the city as the airport changed hands. Federal forces have not yet been reported inside Mekelle itself, and access to the area remains tightly restricted.
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The airport is about 10 kilometres from the centre of Mekelle and was one of three airfields in the region seized by rebel forces at the start of the fighting on September 23. A source with knowledge of events in the city and a humanitarian source said the Ethiopian National Defence Forces had regained control of the site. A local journalist and residents also said TPLF leaders were among those retreating from the city, although the claims could not be independently verified.
The situation in Mekelle is being complicated by severe limits on media access and communications blackouts, making it difficult to confirm developments on the ground. One resident told AFP that there were fears government and public property could be exposed to looting because no security forces were visible in the city. Another resident said there was concern that lawlessness could spread and expressed fear for personal safety.
The reports suggest the immediate security picture in the city remains uncertain even as the airport has changed hands. The recapture of the airport is a significant development in the wider conflict between federal forces and the TPLF-led rebel coalition. Last month, the rebels announced a seven-party alliance led by the TPLF, the same armed group that fought federal forces in the 2020-2022 civil war.
Later that month, the coalition launched an offensive that seized airports around Tigray and triggered fighting on the borders with Amhara and Afar regions. The latest advance by federal forces suggests the counteroffensive is now pressing deeper into Tigrayan territory. The conflict has also widened beyond ground fighting, with reports of drone attacks and claims that rebels have targeted Addis Ababa.
According to the supplied reporting, fighting has so far been concentrated in Tigray, while the government is advancing along three axes towards Mekelle. The TPLF and the federal government have not commented on the latest developments, leaving the scale of the territorial shift and the condition of the city unclear. What remains uncertain is whether federal forces will enter Mekelle itself and how quickly they can establish control beyond the airport.
It is also not clear how much of the reported rebel withdrawal reflects a tactical retreat or a broader collapse of positions in the city. With communications still disrupted and access limited, further confirmation is likely to depend on additional local reporting and official statements. The next key question is whether the fighting around Mekelle intensifies or whether the airport capture marks the start of a wider change in control.
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