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The leader of the Ethiopian region of Tigray said his forces shelled the airport in the Eritrean capital Asmara on Saturday night, confirming diplomatic reports of a major escalation in the 12-day conflict in Ethiopia.
“Reuters” quoted Debrision Gebramikail, leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, as saying today (Sunday) that his forces are fighting “16 divisions” of the Eritrean army “on various fronts” in recent days. He did not specify the location of the battles, but said Eritrean forces are deployed and fighting on the border with Ethiopia.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military offensive in the troubled northern Tigray region on November 4. The Eritrean government denied any role in the conflict.
Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace agreement two years ago, but the government of Eritrea President Isaias Afwerki remains hostile to Tigray’s leadership after its role in the devastating war between 1998 and 2000.
There was no immediate comment from the Ethiopian government on Debrision’s account of the attacks in Eritrea.
A member of the Debretion party, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigray, threatened yesterday (Saturday) to attack Eritrean targets.
Debarsion told “Reuters” that fighting on the ground is being fought “on several fronts” and that the displacement of civilians is increasing.
Abe accuses the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which runs the mountainous region of more than five million people, of treason and terrorism, and says its military campaign will restore order. Abe won the Nobel Peace Prize thanks to the 2018 peace agreement with Eritrea.
The United Nations refugee agency said Friday that fighting in Ethiopia had led more than 14,000 people to flee to Sudan.
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