Eritrean Soldiers Advance into Tigray, Sparking Fear of Wider Conflict

Thu Oct 08 2026 09:02:48 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Residents report Eritrean troops moving through Adigrat en route to Edaga Hamus, heightening tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Eritrea‑aligned forces are reportedly moving deep into northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region, according to residents in Adigrat. Two weeks of fighting between Ethiopia’s army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has left the area destabilised. Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic ties after the clash over ownership of a Red Sea port. Local witnesses claim that Eritrean convoys with heavy weapons have traversed key towns, stirring memories of the 2020‑22 war and raising fears of a spill‑over. The situation remains fluid, with international observers wary of a broader regional crisis.

Eritrea-backed forces have crossed into Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, residents in the town of Adigrat say. The troops are moving along a corridor that historically links Adigrat to Mekelle, the region’s capital now under Ethiopian army control.

Fighting in Tigray erupted two weeks ago after Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) accused each other of breaching a 2022 cease‑fire agreement. The same clash that raised the risk of famine has now drawn Eritrean soldiers back into the theatre, a move that could trigger broader hostilities.

Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have steeped since the Ethiopian prime minister’s push to seize control of an Eritrean Red Sea port, prompting both sides to cut diplomatic ties last week. The resumption of military presence in the border zone comes amid fears of a new regional conflict.

Local witnesses describe heavy military convoys, some carrying Eritrean registration plates, passing through Adigrat and then heading south toward Edaga Hamus. They report trucks packed with soldiers and heavy weapons, including anti‑aircraft guns, and identified some troops marching on foot.

“The memories are still fresh,” one resident told the BBC. “Seeing Eritrean soldiers again is emotionally distressing.” Officials in Mekelle have confirmed that the new troop movements are related to the ongoing conflict and issue warnings that retaliation could be severe.

While the BBC cannot confirm every claim on the ground, the re‑entry of Eritrean forces has raised alarms among local civilians and analysts who fear the situation could spiral into a wider war. The international community is keeping a close watch as Ethiopia and Eritrea grapple with the political and military fallout of the Tigray crisis.