Pro-Government Militia Claims Capture of Mekelle Airport in Tigray
Tigray Peace Forces say they hold Alula Aba Nega Airport; Reuters cannot verify
2 min read
File photo: Campus view at Mekelle University in Tigray, Ethiopia (2023). Photo: Jnyssen, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Unverified militia claim
A pro-government militia allied with Ethiopia’s federal authorities said late Friday that it had taken full control of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport and was clearing the Tigray regional capital, Reuters reported on Saturday.
“We have taken full control of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport. We are currently clearing the city of Mekelle,” the Tigray Peace Forces militia posted on X, according to the Reuters account carried by Devdiscourse.
Reuters said it could not immediately verify the assertion. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister’s Office did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads an opposition alliance that launched a major offensive last week, could not immediately be reached for comment. AFP similarly said the claim could not be independently verified amid communications disruptions and media access restrictions.
Worst escalation since 2020-22 war
If confirmed, the capture of Mekelle by pro-government forces would mark a major setback for the TPLF-led opposition alliance. Ethiopian federal forces and allied fighters have mounted a rapid counterattack into Tigray following last week’s offensive, Reuters reported.
Analysts say the fighting is the worst escalation since the 2020–2022 civil war and risks widening into a broader regional conflict. Battlefield claims from all sides have been difficult to confirm independently as access for journalists remains limited and local communications are disrupted.
Why the airport matters
Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport is the main air link into the Tigray capital and a strategically significant site in any contest for control of the region. Control of the airport would affect logistics, evacuation routes and the ability of either side to reinforce positions around Mekelle, according to military analysts cited in regional reporting of the claim.
Candor Post notes that the militia’s claim remains unverified by independent reporters on the ground. Readers should treat battlefield announcements from all parties with caution until corroborating evidence emerges from multiple sources.
The latest fighting comes amid already strained regional diplomacy. Ethiopia and Eritrea have cut diplomatic ties — a separate development from the airport claim itself. The immediate question for Saturday’s reporting is whether federal-allied forces have in fact secured the airport and how far any advance into Mekelle has progressed.
