Ethiopian government forces and allied forces have regained control of the capital of Tigray, three sources told Reuters on Sunday, dealing a major setback to the opposition alliance.
The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), said in a statement posted on Facebook that it had retreated from the capital and that the regional government would be "temporarily moved out of Mekelle and operate from somewhere else."
A source close to the pro-government forces, the Tigray Peace Forces, said its members entered the centre of Mekelle on Saturday afternoon, followed by the Ethiopian military.
A humanitarian source and a Mekelle resident, who asked not to be named, confirmed the city was controlled by government forces.
Loss of Mekelle a major blow for TPLF
The taking of Mekelle by pro-government forces is a major loss for the TPLF members, which launched a big offensive on September 23 against the Ethiopian army.
Ethiopian army and allied forces have made a quick counterattack into Tigray, but analysts say the fighting — the worst escalation since the 2020-2022 civil war — threatens to escalate into a wider regional conflict.
The federal government in Addis Ababa severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea last week, accusing it, along with Sudan and Egypt, of supporting TPLF — a claim all three countries deny.
