Reuters: Eritrean Troops Reportedly Move Into Tigray as Ethiopia-Eritrea Tensions Escalate

TORONTO — Eritrean troops have reportedly moved deeper into Ethiopia’s Tigray region, according to Reuters, raising fresh concerns that renewed fighting could develop into a direct confrontation between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Reuters reported that witnesses saw Eritrean soldiers travelling through the northern Ethiopian town of Adigrat, in what could mark a significant escalation in the latest conflict. Eritrea has denied that its forces are involved and has accused Ethiopia of using such reports to build a case for war.

The reports come as fighting between Ethiopian federal forces and forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front has intensified. Ethiopian forces have been advancing toward Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, while concerns are growing that the conflict could spread beyond the region.

Deutsche Welle has also reported on the growing regional dimension of the crisis, warning that tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara are pushing the two countries closer to a direct confrontation.

The latest escalation is particularly significant given Eritrea’s previous involvement in the Tigray conflict. Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopian government troops during the 2020–22 war, but relations between the two governments have since sharply deteriorated.

Ethiopia and Eritrea have also severed diplomatic relations, further deepening an already serious regional crisis. Addis Ababa has accused Asmara of supporting armed groups opposed to the Ethiopian government, allegations Eritrea has rejected.

The situation is being closely watched across the Horn of Africa, where tensions involving Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan and other regional powers could add further pressure to an already fragile security environment.

For now, the scale of Eritrean military involvement remains disputed. But if reports of Eritrean troops moving deeper into Tigray are confirmed, the development could mark a major turning point — raising the prospect of a much wider confrontation in the Horn of Africa.