Ethiopian Forces Enter Strategic Tigray Town of Adwa

Ethiopian government forces have entered the strategic town of Adwa in the Tigray region without a fight, witnesses said. The move comes days after federal troops captured the town of Adigrat from rebel fighters, marking a major shift in the northern conflict.

Troops Enter Without Resistance

Residents of Adwa, a town about 40 kilometers from the Eritrean border, said federal forces and an allied militia entered on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front fighters had withdrawn a day earlier, avoiding a battle for the town.

Adwa is historically significant as the site of the famous 1896 battle where Ethiopian forces defeated Italian invaders. Its capture gives the federal government control of another key town in northwestern Tigray as the military campaign continues.

Flights Resume to Mekelle

On the same day, Ethiopian Airlines resumed flights to Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region. Passengers arrived at Mekelle airport on Sunday, the first commercial flights since the fighting intensified. The return of air service is seen as a sign that the government is tightening its grip on the region.

The federal advance follows weeks of rising tension between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Both countries have increased their military rhetoric in recent months, raising fears of a wider war in the Horn of Africa.

What Led to This Point

The Tigray region has faced repeated rounds of conflict in recent years. The latest fighting began after tensions between the federal government in Addis Ababa and Tigrayan forces boiled over again. Thousands of civilians have been displaced by the clashes.

Regional observers warn that the situation remains fragile. With Ethiopian forces now controlling key towns and the border area with Eritrea on edge, diplomats are calling for restraint to prevent the conflict from spreading further across the region.

Humanitarian Concerns Grow

Aid groups warn that civilians are paying the highest price for the renewed fighting. Thousands of families have fled their homes in recent weeks, and many are sheltering in schools and churches with little food or clean water. Humanitarian access to parts of Tigray remains difficult.

The International Organization for Migration recently reported that more than 20,000 migrants have crossed from Ethiopia into Djibouti since September, showing how instability is pushing people to risk dangerous journeys. Diplomats fear that if the conflict spreads toward the Eritrean border, it could trigger a much larger regional crisis. Calls for ceasefire talks are growing louder.