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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) – The leader of Ethiopia’s rebellious Tigray region confirmed the launch of missiles at the neighboring capital of Eritrea and threatens more, marking a huge escalation as deadly clashes in northern Ethiopia between the Tigray forces and the federal government they stretch across an international border. .
Tigray regional president Debretsion Gebremichael, in a telephone interview Sunday with The Associated Press, did not say how many missiles were fired at the city of Asmara on Saturday, but said it was the only city in Eritrea that was hit.
“As long as the troops are here fighting, we will take any legitimate military target and fire,” he said, accusing Eritrea of sending troops to the Tigray region and denying reports that regional Tigray forces have entered Eritrea.
“We will fight them on all fronts with whatever means we have,” he said. He claimed that around 16 Eritrean divisions are fighting in what he called a “full-scale war”.
Ethiopia’s looming civil war between a regional government that once dominated the country’s ruling coalition and a Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister whose radical reforms sidelined the power of the Tigray region could fracture a key ally. security forces and destabilize the strategic Horn of Africa. , with the potential to send tens of thousands of refugees to Sudan.
At least three rockets appeared to be targeting the airport. in Eritrea’s capital Asmara, hours after the Tigray regional government warned on Saturday that it might attack. He has accused Eritrea of attacking him at the invitation of the Ethiopian government after the conflict erupted on November 4 with an attack by regional forces on a federal military base in the Tigray region.
In a security alert, the US Embassy in Eritrea said that “a series of loud noises were heard in Asmara” on Saturday night, and “unconfirmed reports indicate that they may have been explosive devices believed to be found in the vicinity of Asmara International Airport. There is no indication that the airport has been attacked. “
The regional leader of Tigray did not want to say how many missiles are at the disposal of his troops but said that “we have several. We can use it selectively, anywhere. “When asked about targeting Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, he replied,” I don’t want to tell you, but the missiles are also long-range. “
Eritrean officials have not responded to requests for comment and there was no immediate comment on the missile strike by the Ethiopian federal government.
The Tigray leader said he had no communication with the Ethiopian federal government. The African Union is pushing for a ceasefire, he said, “but the prime minister is not ready to listen. He believes in the power that he has. “He called this a” really complicated situation that requires international intervention. “
Tigray’s heavily armed regional government split from Ethiopia’s ruling coalition last year and objects to the postponement of national elections until next year, extending the rule of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. In September he held regional elections in defiance of Abiy.
Each side regards the other as illegal, and the federal government now says that members of the ruling “clique” of the Tigray region must now be arrested and their well-stocked arsenal destroyed. Abiy calls it a “law enforcement action,” while his military officers call it war.
The Tigray leader told the AP that he did not have an exact number of people killed in the clashes, but said that “there is a very massive displacement taking place. The fighting is happening on all fronts, apart from air strikes. “He added,” We have to defend ourselves, you know?
The Tigray region is sandwiched between Ethiopian forces, Eritrea and Sudan, which has closed its border but allows the entry of refugees.
The Tigray leader said that his government, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, had not had a communication channel with Eritrea, even before the conflict. The two sides are at odds after a long and deadly border war that ended after Abiy took office in 2018.
Abiy has rejected requests from the international community for an immediate reduction in escalation, as his government refuses to regard the TPLF as an entity with which to negotiate.
Another senior TPLF official, Getachew Reda, in a statement posted on social media stated that Ethiopia’s prime minister “is now getting the support of UAE drones based in (the Eritrean city of) Assab in his devastating war against the people of Tigray “. It offered no evidence to back up the claim.
The United Nations and others have warned of a looming humanitarian disaster Some 25,000 hungry and frightened Ethiopian refugees have fled the Tigray region for Sudan. Communications and transportation links to the Tigray region remain almost completely cut off, and millions are at risk due to shortages of food, fuel and other supplies.
