Afar Region Claims Eritrean Troops Crossed Border; Eritrea Denies Allegations

The Afar Regional State has accused Eritrean troops of crossing the Ethiopian border and launching attacks in alliance with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) against Ethiopian government forces. According to Afar Communication Head Obbo Mohammad Ali and Regional President Awal Arba, Eritrean soldiers have entered areas such as Abala, Megale, Wasamana, and Eripti, with captured soldiers and military equipment allegedly taken. However, Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the allegations in a statement to the BBC, dismissing them as false accusations intended to divert attention from internal conflicts. The conflict follows a shift in regional dynamics post-Pretoria Agreement and heightened tensions regarding Red Sea access. Field Marshal Birhanu Jula of the Ethiopian National Defense Force recently noted fighting against forces aligned with foreign interests. The federal government has not officially confirmed or denied the direct involvement of Eritrean forces in the current clashes.