Ethiopian forces seize Mekelle as Tigray rebels retreat amid diplomatic rupture
Ethiopian federal forces have entered the Tigray regional capital, Mekelle, after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) abandoned the city. This development follows a counter-offensive that pushed rebels out of Afar and Amhara states. The conflict, which resumed on September 23, has triggered a diplomatic crisis with Eritrea and Egypt, while the African Union and religious leaders urge emergency intervention to prevent further escalation.