Ethiopia’s government forces retake airport from Tigray rebels in Mekelle

What the report says

Ethiopia’s federal forces and allied pro-government fighters have recaptured the main airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, according to Reuters, AFP and local sources cited by Al Jazeera. The airport, Alula Aba Nega Airport, lies about 10 kilometers from the city center and was one of three airfields in the region that rebel forces had seized earlier in the renewed fighting.

Unnamed sources told Reuters that the Ethiopian National Defence Forces had regained control of the airport, while a local journalist and residents told AFP that Tigray People’s Liberation Front fighters and leaders were seen leaving Mekelle. One reporter said federal troops had not yet been observed inside the city. Residents expressed concern about possible looting and a breakdown in law and order if security forces were absent. Al Jazeera said it could not independently verify those accounts.

The development comes amid a broader offensive that began after a new rebel coalition led by the TPLF was announced last month. The coalition has included groups from different parts of Ethiopia, and the latest fighting has centered on Tigray, with reports of clashes near Amhara and Afar and drone attacks elsewhere. The TPLF and the federal government have not commented on the latest battlefield reports.

The renewed conflict is important because it raises the risk of wider instability in Ethiopia and possible regional spillover. Human rights groups have warned of civilian harm, infrastructure attacks and forced conscription, while tensions with Eritrea have also increased alongside accusations of outside backing for the warring sides.