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Ethiopia’s military chief accused Eritrea of directing a new offensive against federal forces and alleged that Egypt supplied weapons and logistical support to Tigrayan rebels in a coordinated effort to overthrow the government, Anadolu Agency reported.
Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, chief of general staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), said at a news conference on Saturday that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had launched a fourth round of attacks on military positions in the Amhara and Afar regions.
“The offensive was led by Eritrea, with logistical support and military supplies provided by Egypt,” Jula said, adding that Ethiopian forces had repelled the attack.
Jula claimed that commanders of the attacking forces fled to Eritrea after their defeat and were sheltering in Adi Keyh, Mendefera and the capital, Asmara. Adi Keyh and Mendefera are major towns in Eritrea’s southern highlands, about 110 kilometres (68 miles) southeast of Asmara.
Ethiopia alleges coalition sought to overthrow government
Jula also accused Eritrea of assembling a coalition involving the TPLF, the Amhara-based Fano militia, the Oromo Liberation Front, Sudan and Egypt. He said its aim was to unite the groups to “destroy Ethiopia and overthrow its government”.
According to Jula, Eritrea intended to use Ethiopia’s northern regions as a battleground to shield its own territory from military confrontation.
The army chief further accused Tigrayan authorities of forcibly recruiting young people, claiming as many as 800,000 had fled the region to avoid military mobilisation.
The military’s claims, including the reported displacement figure and allegations of Egyptian and Eritrean involvement, could not be independently verified. Eritrea and Egypt have previously rejected Ethiopian accusations of interference in its internal affairs, and neither country immediately responded to the latest allegations.
The accusations come amid renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and deteriorating relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara. The two countries fought alongside each other during the 2020-2022 Tigray war.
Tensions have also grown over Ethiopia’s push for access to the Red Sea. Eritrea has accused its landlocked neighbour of threatening its sovereignty and seeking access to the sea through military force; Addis Ababa has denied the allegations.
The escalating hostilities have raised concerns about a wider conflict in the Horn of Africa, prompting international calls for restraint and a diplomatic resolution.
