Ethiopia Threatens to Defend Itself After Eritrean Troops Cross Border

Fri Oct 09 2026 15:33:49 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Eritrea faces escalating tensions after Eritrean forces allegedly crossed into Ethiopia's Tigray region, sparking a diplomatic flare‑up and drone attacks.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of an all‑out invasion of its northern Tigray region after reports of Eritrean troops crossing the border. In a letter to the UN, the foreign minister called the incursion a blatant act of aggression, while Eritrea denied backing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and blamed Ethiopia for the flare‑up. Drone strikes on Eritrean forces in Adigrat and accounts of destroyed lorries have heightened fears of a wider regional war. The clash follows weeks of fighting in Tigray, the withdrawal of Tigray forces from Mekelle, and the breakdown of diplomatic ties between the two neighbours.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of an all‑out invasion of its northern Tigray region after residents told BBC that Eritrean troops had crossed the border, prompting a diplomatic flare‑up and drone attacks.

In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopia’s foreign minister called the incursion a blatant act of aggression that justifies the country’s right to self‑defence. The message came after reports of strikes on Eritrean forces in the Tigrayan town of Adigrat.

Eritrea’s information minister countered, saying Eritrea was facing an unprovoked war of aggression from its neighbour and denying support for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Both sides blame each other over the 2022 ceasefire that ended the civil war.

During the two‑year conflict, Eritrea backed Ethiopian troops against the TPLF, but their relationship has fractured over Ethiopia’s interest in a key Eritrean port, leading to the severing of diplomatic ties last week.

The Ethiopian foreign minister alleged that Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60km (37 miles) into Tigray. Drone footage suggests that multiple strikes hit Eritrean lorries, with witnesses reporting the destruction of vehicles and the retreat of the forces northward.

The rise in hostilities follows months of tension and the formation of a joint alliance of armed groups, including the TPLF, and the recent withdrawal of TPLF forces from Mekelle, now under government control.

The situation remains volatile, with fears that the conflict could extend beyond Ethiopia’s borders. Both governments have called on the international community for calm.