Eritrean Troops Reportedly Deploy in Tigray Amid Rising Tensions with Ethiopia

Eritrean soldiers have reportedly deployed in parts of the Tigray region amid escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. A local official in Adigrat informed AFP that Eritrean troops have been present in the city for around four days, raising serious concerns among the local population. Eyewitnesses reported seeing soldiers wearing Eritrean military uniforms traveling south along the main highway. Furthermore, another witness observed Eritrean forces being transported in large trucks and patrol vehicles toward Idaga Hamus, located roughly 20 kilometers south of Adigrat, while carrying heavy weaponry. Eritrean forces previously fought alongside Ethiopian federal troops against Tigrayan forces during the 2020–2022 Northern Ethiopia war, which concluded with the November 2022 Pretoria cessation of hostilities agreement. Following the signing of the peace deal, official relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have significantly deteriorated. The brutal two-year conflict resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 people, with both Ethiopian and Eritrean forces facing serious allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity.