Ethiopian gov’t-aligned group claims close to full control of Tigray region

What the report says

An armed group aligned with Ethiopia’s federal government says it is close to taking full control of Tigray, a northern region that has again become a major front in the country’s conflict. In reporting published by Al Jazeera on October 2, 2026, the commander of the Tigray Peace Forces said on social media that Tigray People’s Liberation Front forces had been wiped out, although Al Jazeera said the claim could not be independently verified.

The account comes after fighting resumed in September between Ethiopian federal forces, including the TPF, and an opposition alliance led by the TPLF. Reuters-quoted residents said government forces were approaching Mekelle, the regional capital, while TPLF chair Debretsion Gebremichael acknowledged that federal troops had taken some areas and said his side would respond later. Al Jazeera reported that pro-government forces have advanced quickly since the latest clashes began, following what appears to be the collapse of a 2022 peace agreement that ended the earlier Tigray war.

The renewed violence has wider regional implications. Al Jazeera said the fighting has spread beyond Tigray into Amhara and Afar, while Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Egypt and Sudan of backing its opponents, prompting diplomatic expulsions and tensions with neighboring states. Eritrea and Egypt deny the allegations.

The publication also described a worsening humanitarian situation, with blackouts, communications outages and civilians fleeing affected areas. Aid agencies, including the UN, have been shifting operations to newly secured locations to preserve limited access.