Ethiopian Drone Strikes Reportedly Hit Eritrean Forces in Northern Tigray

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopian drone strikes have reportedly targeted Eritrean forces positioned around the northern Tigrayan city of Adigrat, according to conflict monitors and witnesses, raising fears that worsening tensions between the two neighbours could escalate into a broader regional conflict.

The reported strikes came after Eritrean troops crossed into northern Ethiopia earlier this week, according to multiple sources cited by AFP. The developments follow a sharp deterioration in relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which fought a border war from 1998 to 2000.

Conflict monitor ACLED said Eritrean troops and ammunition in the Adigrat area were hit by multiple drone strikes overnight between Wednesday and Thursday.

Witnesses also reported explosions and damage to Eritrean military vehicles and transport trucks in the city.

One witness told AFP that several Eritrean trucks had been destroyed and were no longer visible on the streets. Another resident reported hearing a major explosion overnight and seeing Eritrean military vehicles that appeared to have been struck by a drone.

A third witness said Eritrean troops appeared to be withdrawing northwards.

The reports have not been independently verified, and neither the Ethiopian nor Eritrean governments had publicly confirmed the reported strikes at the time of publication.

Ethiopia and Eritrea trade accusations

The reported fighting comes amid increasingly hostile relations between the two countries.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups in its northern Tigray region, while Eritrea has accused Ethiopia of backing opponents of the Eritrean government and seeking a pretext to intervene in Eritrean affairs.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Meskel accused Ethiopia of pursuing regime change in Eritrea, alleging that Addis Ababa was providing shelter and support to individuals claiming to be part of the Eritrean opposition.

Ethiopia has also expressed growing interest in securing reliable access to the Red Sea after losing its coastline following Eritrea's independence in 1993.

Ethiopian commander downplays fighting

A senior Ethiopian federal army commander sought to play down the scale of the confrontation in comments to AFP.

The commander, speaking anonymously, described the remaining opposition forces as small pockets that were continuing to resist and create disturbances.

The comments came as reports of Eritrean military deployments around Adigrat raised concerns over the possibility of a wider confrontation involving Ethiopia, Eritrea and actors in the Tigray region.

From regional allies to renewed tensions

Ethiopia and Eritrea have a long and complicated history.

Eritrea formally gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, leaving Ethiopia without direct access to the Red Sea. The two countries subsequently fought a devastating border war between 1998 and 2000.

Relations improved significantly after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018. The rapprochement earned Abiy the Nobel Peace Prize that year and ended years of diplomatic hostility between Addis Ababa and Asmara.

Eritrea later supported Ethiopia during the 2020–2022 Tigray conflict, in which Ethiopian federal forces fought the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

However, relations deteriorated following the peace agreement that ended the Tigray war. Eritrea has expressed concerns over aspects of the settlement, while Ethiopia's renewed push for access to the Red Sea has added another source of tension.

Earlier this month, Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and closed its embassy in Asmara. Eritrea subsequently announced that it would sever diplomatic relations with Ethiopia.

Fears of a wider regional conflict

The reported drone strikes and Eritrean military movements have heightened concerns that the latest dispute could develop into a larger conflict in the Horn of Africa.

Any sustained confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea could have consequences extending beyond their shared border, particularly given the unresolved political and security tensions surrounding Tigray and the strategic importance of Red Sea access.

For now, the scale of the reported fighting remains unclear, with conflicting accounts and limited independent information from the area.

The developments are being closely watched as regional and international actors face renewed concerns over stability in the Horn of Africa.