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- Rockets launched from Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region have struck the capital of Eritrea again.
- Eritrea is one of the most secretive countries in the world and the government has not commented on the strikes.
- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared on Saturday night that the military operations in Tigray were “completed”.
Rockets fired from the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia have struck Eritrea’s capital again, diplomats told AFP on Sunday, while the US embassy in Asmara reported “six explosions” in the city.
The “explosions”, which according to the embassy occurred “around 10:13 pm” on Saturday night, occurred hours after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory in his military campaign against the ruling party. of Tigray, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). .
They mark the third time Asmara has been attacked by Tigray since military operations there began on November 4, although the TPLF has claimed responsibility for only the first attack two weeks ago.
The TPLF justified that attack by accusing Ethiopia of gaining Eritrean military support for its campaign in Tigray, something Ethiopia denies.
Two Addis Ababa-based diplomats told AFP that several rockets fired on Saturday night appeared to have targeted the Asmara airport and military installations, although as in previous attacks, it was unclear where they landed and what damage they could. have caused.
Eritrea is one of the most secretive countries in the world and the government has not commented on the strikes.
Abiy, winner of last year’s Nobel Peace Prize, declared on Saturday night that the military operations in Tigray were “complete” after the army took control of the regional capital, Mekele.
Thousands have died in the fighting and tens of thousands of refugees have crossed the border into Sudan.
Tigray has been under a communications blackout throughout the conflict, making it difficult to assess the total number of fierce fighting that has included multiple rounds of airstrikes and at least one massacre that killed hundreds of civilians.
It was also impossible to independently verify Abiy’s claim that Mekele, a city of half a million people, was fully under the control of the federal government.
Abiy said on Saturday that police were working to detain the TPLF leaders, who could not be immediately located on Sunday and whose whereabouts are unknown.
The TPLF has vowed to keep fighting as long as pro-Abiy forces have some kind of presence in Tigray, and analysts have warned that it could shift gears to adopt insurgent-style tactics.
