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Tigray rebels claimed on Tuesday that they had killed more than 1,500 Ethiopian soldiers in two days of fighting in the country’s northern Tigray region, according to Anadolu Agency.
Negash Hiluf, an official of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said rebel fighters killed 1,511 federal soldiers and wounded 1,050 others in clashes on Oct. 17 and 18.
“Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) intercepted Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) troops near Mirena … inflicting 1,511 fatalities and wounding 1,050 others,” Hiluf said in a video briefing carried by the pro-opposition Tigray Media Corporation.
The TPLF said the clashes took place around Mirena in central Tigray as government troops tried to advance towards the town of Adet. The group also claimed to have killed 11 members of the Tigray Peace Force, an armed faction aligned with the federal government.
The casualty figures could not be independently verified. Neither the Ethiopian government nor the military had publicly responded to the claims.
Abiy warns Eritrea over alleged support for armed groups
Meanwhile, Abiy accused Eritrea of supporting Tigray forces seeking to destabilise Ethiopia and warned its government against ignoring calls for cooperation.
“I believe that opting to be a host of enemies instead of partner in development is not beneficial. However, the consequence of giving a deaf ear to our calls will be very, very, very severe,” Abiy said in an interview broadcast by the state-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation.
He said cooperation between the neighbouring countries offered a better future than military confrontation, and urged Eritrean authorities to prioritise economic development and peaceful relations.
Ethiopia has repeatedly accused Eritrean forces of crossing its northern border and assisting the TPLF. Asmara has rejected the allegations. Eritrea, in turn, has accused Ethiopia of seeking to seize its Red Sea port of Assab, fuelling fears of a wider regional conflict.
Clashes follow reported withdrawals near Eritrean border
The latest rebel claims followed reports that Ethiopian forces had withdrawn from Adwa and Rama, near the Eritrean border, after attacks by TPLF rebels.
Federal troops had earlier captured Mekelle, Tigray’s regional capital, and several other towns during an offensive launched after major hostilities resumed on Sept. 23.
Addis Ababa has since announced a six-month caretaker administration for Tigray as it seeks to consolidate federal control and restore public services.
The TPLF is also part of the Alliance for Survival, a coalition of seven armed and political groups formed in September to challenge Abiy’s government.
