BBC: Eritrea Secretly Deploys Troops to Ethiopia’s Tigray Region
Eritrean troops have crossed the Ethiopian border and advanced deeper into the Tigray region, where fighting is ongoing between government forces and rebel groups.
The British broadcaster BBC reported this on October 7, citing local residents.
According to eyewitnesses, Eritrean troops were moving from the border town of Zalambessa through Adigrat toward Edaga Hamus, located between Adigrat and Tigray’s administrative capital, Mekelle.
One resident of Adigrat said he saw a convoy of approximately 40 trucks carrying soldiers traveling south. Another eyewitness reported seeing 20–30 large trucks with Eritrean license plates heading toward Edaga Hamus.
According to other accounts, the convoys also included vehicles equipped with heavy weapons, including anti-aircraft guns. Some Eritrean troops were traveling on foot. One BBC source estimated that the convoy seen by his relatives consisted of around 60 trucks.
Local residents also report the deployment of Eritrean units in mountainous areas near Edaga Hamus. According to them, drone strikes targeting military positions have taken place near the town.
Meanwhile, the BBC emphasizes that it has been unable to independently verify reports of Eritrean troop movements. Journalists were also unable to verify the authenticity of videos of military convoys circulating on social media.
Escalation of the Conflict in Ethiopia
A new phase of fighting in Tigray began on September 23 following several months of growing tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
On October 4, government forces and allied formations regained control of Mekelle after TPLF units withdrew. The rebels said they were temporarily relocating their regional administration.
The day before, on October 1, Eritrea severed diplomatic relations with Ethiopia following the closure of the Ethiopian embassy in Asmara and the expulsion of Eritrean diplomats. Addis Ababa accuses its neighbor of supporting the rebels, although Eritrean authorities have previously denied the allegations.
Ethiopian government representative Abraham Belay accused Eritrea of directly participating in the fighting in an interview with Fana Television. According to him, the Eritrean army suffered casualties and captured personnel, and Ethiopia is preparing a response to its intervention.
Background to the Conflict
From 2020 to 2022, Eritrea, by contrast, fought alongside the Ethiopian federal government against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The two-year conflict claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and ended with the signing of the Pretoria Peace Agreement in November 2022.
Since then, relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated sharply. One of the main reasons has been the Ethiopian leadership’s demand for access to the Red Sea, particularly through Eritrea’s Port of Assab. Eritrea views such statements as a threat to its sovereignty.
Militarnyi previously reported that on September 21, seven Ethiopian armed groups announced the formation of a unified alliance against the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The alliance includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the Oromo Liberation Army, and the Fano militia operating in the Amhara region. The alliance said its goal was to overthrow the current government and establish a transitional administration.
Militarnyi also reported that in August 2026, Tigray People’s Liberation Front rebels used NWF10 FPV drones, manufactured by the Turkish company North Weapon, against the Ethiopian army.
