Eritrean Troops Reportedly Entered Northern Ethiopia, Escalating Regional Tensions

Witnesses in northern Ethiopia have reported seeing Eritrean soldiers operating inside Ethiopian territory, a development that threatens to broaden a conflict that has already destabilized the Horn of Africa. According to accounts provided to Reuters, at least two witnesses observed dozens of Eritrean troops traveling through the town of Adigrat on Wednesday in two separate trucks.

Adigrat sits approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of the Eritrean border, placing any military presence there deep within Ethiopian territory. The witnesses stated they were able to identify the soldiers as Eritrean based on their distinctive off-white camouflage uniforms, a style associated with Eritrean military forces.

A third resident of Adigrat, who was not in the town at the time of the reported sighting, told Reuters that family members had also described seeing Eritrean troops. The news agency noted that it could not independently verify any of the accounts, leaving open questions about the scale and nature of the reported incursion.

The reports come just days after Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic relations, marking a dramatic deterioration in ties between the two neighboring countries. Eritrea announced on Thursday that it was cutting all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, describing the move as a necessary response to actions taken by Addis Ababa.

The breakdown followed Ethiopia's decision to close its embassy in Asmara and expel ten Eritrean diplomats. Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that Ethiopia's actions had left it with "no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia."

Eritrea's Information Minister, Yemane Meskel, addressed the allegations in a statement posted on X. He did not explicitly deny that Eritrean troops had crossed into Ethiopia, but instead accused Ethiopia's government of constructing what he called a "fallacious narrative of 'self-defense'" to justify and conceal its own "war of aggression."

The alleged sighting represents the first time Eritrean forces have been reported inside Ethiopia since fighting resumed on September 23 between Ethiopian government forces and a seven-group armed alliance. That alliance includes the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which has been engaged in renewed hostilities with federal troops.

A commander of the Tigray Peace Force, a pro-government militia that has fought alongside the federal army, offered a detailed account of the situation. Gebreigziabher Beyene claimed that "the Eritrean army has entered Tigray in uniform, equipped with heavy weaponry." He further alleged that this force was being targeted by drones and accused Eritrea of "deliberately deploying its forces so that the fighting takes place inside Tigray rather than spilling into Eritrea."

The reported military movements follow a series of rapid developments on the ground. On Monday, Ethiopian forces captured Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray, just days after the TPLF confirmed it had withdrawn from the city and relocated its regional administration "temporarily" to another location. The federal advance marked a significant shift in the military balance in the region.

The same week, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for another five-year term. During his inauguration, Abiy reiterated his insistence that Ethiopia, a landlocked nation, must secure access to the Red Sea—a position that has raised concerns among neighboring countries and contributed to regional friction.

On the day of Abiy's swearing-in, Eritrea joined Somalia, Sudan, and Egypt in issuing a joint declaration calling for a political and peaceful resolution to the war in Ethiopia. The statement appeared to challenge several policies Ethiopia has pursued in recent years, underscoring the widening rifts between Addis Ababa and its regional neighbors.

Ethiopia has previously accused Eritrea, along with Egypt and Sudan, of supporting the armed alliance seeking to remove its government. All three countries have denied any involvement in backing the coalition. The allegations and counter-allegations have contributed to a climate of heightened suspicion across the region.

Last week, the chief administrator of Ethiopia's northeastern Afar region also claimed that Eritrean troops were actively fighting in that area. Reuters was unable to independently confirm that assertion at the time, but the latest reports from Adigrat lend additional weight to concerns that Eritrean forces may be operating across the border.

The potential involvement of Eritrea in the Ethiopian conflict carries significant implications for regional stability. A direct Eritrean military role would transform what has largely been an internal Ethiopian confrontation into a broader interstate conflict, potentially drawing in other regional powers and complicating any prospects for a negotiated settlement.

The Horn of Africa has already experienced considerable volatility in recent years, and the severing of Ethiopian-Eritrean diplomatic ties removes a key channel for de-escalation. With communications between the two capitals now effectively closed, the risk of miscalculation and unintended escalation increases substantially.

International observers are likely to monitor the situation closely in the coming days. Verification of the reported Eritrean troop movements remains difficult given limited access to the remote northern border region and the fog of ongoing military operations. The accounts provided by witnesses, while consistent, have not been independently corroborated by neutral parties.

For now, the conflicting narratives from Addis Ababa and Asmara reflect a rapidly deteriorating relationship that only months ago appeared to be on a path toward normalization. The collapse of diplomatic ties and the reported presence of foreign troops on Ethiopian soil signal that the conflict may be entering a more dangerous and unpredictable phase.