Eritrean troops enter Ethiopia as fears of wider war grow
ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia faces the growing threat of a direct military confrontation with neighbouring Eritrea after reports emerged that Eritrean soldiers had crossed into the country’s northern Tigray region, where renewed fighting has already shattered a fragile peace agreement.
The reported troop movements mark a significant escalation in a conflict that has rapidly expanded since September, drawing in armed groups and threatening to destabilise the wider Horn of Africa.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), Eritrean troops crossed the border near Zalambessa and advanced towards Adigrat and Idaga Hamus. Reports also indicate that Ethiopian drones targeted the advancing forces. Eritrea has not publicly confirmed the deployment.
The developments follow renewed fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Ethiopian troops recently regained control of Mekelle, the Tigray regional capital, after rebel forces withdrew. However, fighting has continued elsewhere in the region, with both sides accusing each other of undermining the 2022 peace agreement.
Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea have deteriorated sharply. Earlier this month, the two countries severed diplomatic ties after Addis Ababa accused Eritrea of supporting armed groups fighting the Ethiopian government. Eritrea has rejected the allegations.
The confrontation is particularly concerning because Eritrea previously fought alongside Ethiopian government forces during the devastating Tigray war between 2020 and 2022.
Their relationship has since deteriorated over political disagreements and Ethiopia’s renewed demands for access to the Red Sea.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly described access to the sea as essential for Ethiopia’s economic development. Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, controls strategically important ports along the Red Sea, including Assab.
Although Abiy has publicly advocated a negotiated solution, Eritrea views Ethiopia’s ambitions with suspicion.
The European Union has warned that the escalating violence could trigger a broader regional conflict, calling on both countries to respect territorial sovereignty and return to diplomatic engagement.
The renewed fighting has also raised humanitarian concerns in Tigray, where communities are still recovering from the previous war, which killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
While reports of Eritrean troops entering Ethiopian territory have strengthened fears of a wider confrontation, the scale of their deployment and whether it represents a coordinated military intervention remain unclear.
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