One killed in drone strike in Ethiopias Tigray region

A drone strike attack occurred in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, resulting in one fatality and another injury. According to a senior Tigrayan official and a humanitarian worker, the strikes targeted two Isuzu trucks near Enticho and Gendebta, approximately 20km apart.

The Ethiopian National Defence Force is reported to have launched the drone strikes, although no evidence was provided by the Tigrayan official. A local humanitarian worker confirmed the incident, but declined to be named. The exact contents of the trucks are unclear.

Pictures posted on Facebook by a TPLF-affiliated news outlet show damage to the trucks, with reports suggesting they were carrying food and cooking items. Pro-government activists on social media claim the trucks were transporting weapons.

Ethiopia’s national army clashed with fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) for two years until late 2022, resulting in significant loss of life and humanitarian crises. Recent tensions have risen over the presence of troops from Amhara and Eritrea in Tigray, violating a peace deal signed in November 2022.

The head of Tigray’s interim administration was forced to flee Mekele last year amid divisions within the TPLF. Addis Ababa accuses the group of forging ties with Eritrea and preparing for war against Ethiopia. The African Union’s chairperson has urged restraint and dialogue to resolve outstanding issues, emphasizing the importance of preserving the 2022 peace agreement.

Humanitarian organisations have reported that up to 80% of Tigray’s population requires emergency support, with funding shortfalls affecting the health system.

Source: Al Jazeera