Ethiopia Says 272 Fighters Killed in Latest Northern Clashes

Ethiopia’s Northern East Command says 272 fighters were killed and 260 wounded in clashes in North Wollo Zone as fighting between federal forces and Tigrayan forces spreads across northern Ethiopia.

The command said the clashes followed an attack launched on September 22, 2026 (Meskerem 12, 2019 Ethiopian calendar) in its area of operations. The fighting forms part of a wider escalation that has seen hostilities spread beyond Tigray into neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.

According to the Northern East Command, forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) attacked positions in North Wollo, prompting a counteroffensive by Ethiopian federal forces. The command said its troops repelled the attack and inflicted significant personnel and equipment losses.

The fighting was reported around several locations in North Wollo, including Tekulesh, Dildey, Key Afer, Bereha Mariam, Baybwa, Bechiro and Kube Kerensa.

The command said its forces seized four DShK heavy machine guns, 22 machine guns, eight sniper rifles, 50 Kalashnikov rifles and three RPG-7 launchers. It also reported capturing communications equipment, including Icom and Type 77 radios, batteries and chargers.

The latest clashes come as fighting has intensified across northern Ethiopia. Tigrayan forces have clashed with federal troops in Afar and Amhara, while Tigrayan forces have also taken control of airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire, according to international reports. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to the three Tigray destinations amid the escalation.

The federal government and Tigray authorities have given competing accounts of who initiated the latest fighting. Tigray authorities have described their military actions as defensive, while federal authorities have portrayed the developments as an offensive involving the TPLF and allied armed groups. The competing claims have not been independently resolved.

The renewed violence comes nearly four years after the Pretoria Agreement ended the 2020–22 Tigray war. Recent fighting has raised concerns that the earlier conflict could develop into a wider confrontation involving several regions and armed groups.

The Northern East Command said it was continuing targeted counterattacks from key military positions and operations to clear its area of responsibility. It also thanked local communities for supporting the military.

Source: FSX Business News