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Ethiopia and Eritrea trade accusations of unprovoked aggression

Addis Ababa alleges an all-out cross-border invasion while Asmara asserts it faces long-term hostilities

Latest update: Ethiopia formally accused Eritrea of an all-out invasion in a letter to the United Nations Security Council, alleging Eritrean troops advanced 60 kilometres into Tigray.

The short version

  • Ethiopian officials accused Eritrea of mounting an all-out military invasion into Tigray, notifying the United Nations Security Council.[Al Jazeera]
  • Eritrean leadership rejected the accusations, alleging instead that Ethiopia has pursued an unprovoked war of aggression against Eritrea.[Al Jazeera]
  • The diplomatic rupture follows estimates by Ethiopian officials and a foreign security source that thousands of Eritrean troops are operating inside Tigray.[France 24]
  • Eritrea denies Ethiopian claims that it is backing Tigray People's Liberation Front forces amidst severed bilateral relations.[France 24 · Al Jazeera]

Key facts

  • Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos sent a letter accusing Eritrea of an all-out invasion and claimed Eritrean troops advanced up to 60 kilometres into Tigray.[Al Jazeera]
  • Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel denied Ethiopia's claims and stated that Eritrea has faced an unprovoked war of aggression for over three years.[Al Jazeera]
  • Ethiopian officials and a foreign security source estimate that between 5,000 and 8,000 Eritrean troops are in Tigray.[France 24]
  • Ethiopia and Eritrea recently severed diplomatic ties following Ethiopian allegations that Eritrea backs the Tigray People's Liberation Front.[France 24 · Al Jazeera]

What remains uncertain

  • The exact number and specific movements of Eritrean personnel inside Tigray remain disputed, with Eritrean backing of Tigray rebels denied by Asmara.[France 24 · Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.