Ethiopia regains border city after reported Eritrean incursion

Ethiopian government forces and their militia allies entered Adigrat, near the border ​with Horn of Africa neighbour Eritrea, this Saturday, three residents said, days after Eritrean troops were pushed back from ‌the strategic city.

The incursion by Eritrean troops, which Eritrea has denied and which Reuters could not independently verify, has raised fears of a return to all-out war along Ethiopia’s northern border where the two nations have clashed before.

Conflicts elsewhere in the region and tensions across the Red Sea have further ​raised the stakes.

Three Adigrat residents told Reuters they had seen the Ethiopian army and an allied militia in the ​city on Saturday morning, with one of the residents saying they saw soldiers on patrol along ⁠with military vehicles.

Reuters could not confirm whether the army was in control of Adigrat, which is located 30 km (19 miles) from ​the border with Eritrea.

Ethiopia’s military did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and city officials were not reachable ​on Saturday.

Ethiopia said in a letter to members of the United States (US) Security Council this week that Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60 km (37 miles) inside Tigray in recent days, warning that the presence of foreign forces left it with no option but to defend itself.

Eritrea has said reports of an ​Eritrean incursion are false and part of an Ethiopian plan to justify a war of aggression.

Explosions were reported near Adigrat on ​Wednesday and Thursday as the US-based conflict monitor Armed Conflict Location & Event Data said Ethiopia used drone strikes against Eritrean forces, who then withdrew from positions near the ‌city.

The explosions ⁠continued on Friday, according to an Adigrat resident, who told Reuters they had heard repeated explosions overnight and into the morning several kilometres outside town.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Spokesperson and Eritrea’s Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not immediately respond to a request for comment.