Ethiopian Military Approaches the Eritrean Border in Tigray Region
Ethiopian military has approached the Eritrean border in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian military convoys, while advancing towards Eritrean border, entered Adigrat town on Friday.
Ongoing war between Eritrea backed Ethiopian opposition alliance and Ethiopian government forces broke out on September 23, 2026. Since the start of the war, Ethiopian military has been pushing Tigray forces towards Eritrean border. Tigray regional forces, one of the main Ethiopian opposition alliance partner, lost majority of major cities in the Tigray region within the last two weeks. Main cities in Tigray like Mekelle, Alamata, Korem, Maychew, Mehoni, Wukro, Negash, Atsbi, Hawzen, Hagere Selam, Abiy Adi, Idaga Hamush, Adigrat and Shire have been taken by the Ethiopian federal forces. Tigray regional forces are now based in central Tigray, eastern Tigray and Tigray-Eritrea border areas.
With the fall of Adigrat city to the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), threat of direct confrontation between Ethiopian and Eritrean militaries has increased. This week, Ethiopian Foreign Ministry, in a letter written to the UN, complained that Eritrean forces had entered Ethiopia in support of Ethiopian opposition forces. Allegedly, Eritrean forces crossed into Tigray region of Ethiopia through Adigrat town. According to pro Ethiopian military sources, the Eritrean military retreated from Ethiopian territories after being hit by Ethiopian military drones.
Around 40 km to the north of Adigrat , is Ethiopian Zalambesa town. Zalambesa is border town between Ethiopia and Eritrea. On Friday, Ethiopian military entered Adigrat without any resistance by Tigray forces or Eritrean military. But between Adigrat and Zalambesa, there is large scale deployment of Eritrean military and Tigray forces. If Ethiopian military starts moving to and beyond Zalambessa town, that could lead to direct confrontation between Eritrea and Ethiopia.
Eritrea and Ethiopia earlier fought a war in 1998. In 2020 their militaries fought as allies against Tigray regional forces. Alliance has changed now as Tigray region of Ethiopia and Eritrea are now jointly confronting the Ethiopian federal forces. Eritrean military and Tigray fighters have the support of other Ethiopian armed groups like Amhara Fano, Oromo Liberation Army, Ogadena National Liberation Front, Benishangul and Gumuz militias.
I don’t think direct fight will be avoidable because Eritrea army and leaders arrogantly interfere in Ethiopia internal affairs and try to be a torjan horse for Egypt. If It constantly supports TDF and middle in Ethiopia internal affairs , the consequences will be large scale war. Ertrea regime doesn’t know modern politics how to work with nations and has disrespect for international communities as it operate on jungle rules. It has isolated it self from cooperation with AU and UN often called the North Korea of Africa and mulnurished its country