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Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of an “all-out invasion” of its northern Tigray region and warned it will defend itself, days after residents told the BBC Eritrean troops had crossed into the country.<\/b><\/p>\n
In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopia’s foreign minister called it a “blatant act of aggression that engages Ethiopia’s inherent right to self-defence”, following reported strikes on Eritrean troops in Tigray.<\/p>\n
Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel responded by saying it was facing “an unprovoked war of aggression” from its neighbour.<\/p>\n
Fighting broke out between the government and the party that controls Tigray, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), two weeks ago.<\/p>\n
Both blame each other for violating a 2022 deal that ended its civil war. Ethiopia says Eritrea backs the TPLF, which it denies.<\/p>\n
During the two-year civil war, Eritrea was a key ally of the Ethiopian government, having fought alongside them against the TPLF. <\/p>\n
But relations between the two neighbours have since deteriorated – largely over the Ethiopian prime minister’s ambition to take ownership of one of Eritrea’s Red Sea ports – leading to the severing of diplomatic ties last week.<\/p>\n
Accusing Eritrea of violating its sovereignty, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos said Eritrean forces had advanced<\/a> up to 60km (37 miles) into Tigray.<\/p>\n Ethiopian drone strikes reportedly targeted Eritrean forces in the Tigrayan town of Adigrat on Wednesday and Thursday, amid fears of a wider regional war.<\/p>\n US-based conflict monitor Acled said “Eritrean troops and ammunition” in Adigrat were hit by “multiple drone strikes” overnight.<\/p>\n One resident told AFP news agency “there were many, many drone strikes”, and that some Eritrean lorries had been destroyed.<\/p>\n Another witness said Eritrean forces appeared to be retreating north after the strikes, AFP reported.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n