Ethiopian Forces Expand Control in Tigray as Militia Claims Heavy Eritrean Losses

Government troops, allied fighters enter historic city of Aksum as conflict monitor documents Eritrean withdrawals near border

Andrew Wasike

15 October 2026

NAIROBI, Kenya

Ethiopian government forces and allied Tigray Peace Force (TPF) fighters have expanded their control across northern Tigray, entering the historic city of Aksum, as the pro-government militia claimed Eritrean troops suffered heavy losses and retreated toward the border.

Solomon Hailemariam, spokesperson for the TPF, claimed Thursday that Eritrean forces had sustained significant casualties during the fighting.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the claims as false in comments to local media. The extent of the reported losses could not be independently verified.

The Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), an independent conflict-monitoring organization, documented Ethiopian government forces and TPF fighters entering the historic city of Aksum, while rival Tigrayan fighters remained in surrounding mountainous areas.

ACLED also reported Eritrean troops withdrawing across the border through Zalambessa following advances by Ethiopian forces and their allies into several strategic towns.

The organization documented Ethiopian tanks and heavy weapons moving toward the Eritrean border Tuesday, raising concerns about a possible confrontation between the neighboring countries.

Eritrea has denied accusations that its forces entered Tigray to support armed opposition groups, accusing Ethiopia of threatening its sovereignty.

The developments come amid growing international pressure to prevent further fighting. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the tensions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and called for de-escalation.

“The Secretary emphasized that the region cannot tolerate more conflict,” the US State Department said.

The TPF supports Ethiopia’s federal government in its campaign against rival Tigrayan forces linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The renewed fighting threatens the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended a two-year war in Tigray. Ethiopia and Eritrea, allies during that conflict, have since fallen out over regional security and Addis Ababa’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea.