# Ethiopia and Tigray Blame Each Other for New Offensive, Airports Seized

*World · World Desk · Published 2026-09-24T07:06:32Z*

Canonical: https://amk.news/article/ethiopia-and-tigray-blame-each-other-for-new-offensive-airports-seized

> Both the Ethiopian federal government and Tigrayan forces have accused each other of launching fresh attacks, including the seizure of key airports in the region. The escalation raises fears of a renewed war that could spill beyond the Tigray border.

**Ethiopia's federal authorities and Tigrayan rebel leaders have traded accusations of a new offensive** in the north, with reports of armed clashes and the capture of Mekelle and other regional airports. The competing narratives have revived concerns that a fragile peace could collapse into a wider conflict.

## Airport seizures spark alarm

According to the *BBC*, local authorities seized Tigray's main airports following reports of recent drone strikes, while residents in Mekelle told the outlet that the airport was taken by forces loyal to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). *Hiiraan Online* and *France 24* corroborated that the Mekelle airport was seized, and *Courthouse News* reported clashes between rebel fighters and government troops at the site.

## Tigrayan forces claim a full‑scale offensive

Multiple outlets, including *Al Jazeera*, *Reuters*, and *The New York Times*, reported that Tigrayan commanders announced a "full‑scale offensive" against the central government, saying they were responding to a perceived Ethiopian attack. The *Washington Post* noted that Tigray rebels framed their actions as a reaction to a "full‑scale offensive" by Addis Ababa, while the Ethiopian government countered that the rebels initiated the fighting.

_Ethiopian army soldiers huge rally in support of the Derg military junta (Image: Wikimedia Commons)_

> "The new war with the Ethiopian government has begun," Tigrayan leaders told Reuters.

## Government denies aggression, blames rebels

The federal side, as reported by the *Washington Post* and *CNN*, maintains that the Tigrayan forces launched the hostilities, accusing them of violating the 2023 peace agreement. Ethiopian officials warned of "destruction" if the rebels continue their advance, a warning echoed by *Al Jazeera* in a separate statement.

## International and regional fallout

The United States, according to the *Washington Examiner*, condemned what it called the rebels' "poor decision" to launch the offensive, warning that it could push Ethiopia back into war. Analysts at *Reuters* warned that renewed fighting in Tigray could trigger a broader regional crisis, a concern also raised by the *Saudi Gazette* which highlighted the risk of spillover into neighboring states.

_Ethiopian Soldiers Korean War (Image: Wikimedia Commons)_

## Air travel disrupted

In the wake of the airport takeovers, Ethiopian Airlines announced a suspension of flights to the Tigray region, as reported by *CNBC Africa* and *AeroTime*. The airline halted several routes pending clarification on the security situation, further isolating the region and complicating humanitarian access.

With both sides entrenched in a war of narratives and each accusing the other of breaching the peace deal, the situation remains volatile. Observers stress that without an immediate de‑escalation, the renewed hostilities could undo years of diplomatic effort and destabilize the Horn of Africa.

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