Drone Strike Reportedly Kills Eight Clergy at Ancient Ethiopian Monastery, Sparks Outrage

Reports emerging from Ethiopia indicate that two nuns and six priests were killed after a reported drone strike hit the historic Arsema Monastery in Mekane Selam, South Wollo, in the Amhara Region.

According to sources within the Ethiopian Orthodox community, the strike occurred on Wednesday at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time. The victims reportedly died at the scene, while dozens of others were injured, although the exact number of casualties has not yet been confirmed.

At the time of publication, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church's Holy Synod had not issued an official statement regarding the incident. Similarly, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) had neither confirmed nor denied responsibility for the reported strike.

Arsema Monastery is regarded as one of Ethiopia's oldest and most revered monasteries, making the reported attack particularly significant for the country's Orthodox Christian community.

The incident comes amid intensified military operations by the Ethiopian government against Fano armed groups across the Amhara Region.

The reported strike has triggered widespread grief and anger on social media, with many Ethiopians expressing concern over the loss of religious leaders and the apparent impact of the conflict on places of worship.

In recent years, members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church have also faced deadly attacks in other parts of the country, particularly in the Arsi Zone of the Oromia Region, where killings targeting Orthodox Christians have been repeatedly reported. The Ethiopian government has attributed many of those attacks to the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), an armed group it designates as a terrorist organization.

During a recent appearance before Ethiopia's Parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed described the killings in Arsi that occurred ahead of last month's general election as an attempt to "disrupt the election."

The circumstances surrounding the reported strike on Arsema Monastery remain unverified by independent sources, and further official information is awaited.