Ethiopian forces and allied militia have expanded control in Tigray and entered Aksum, while the Tigray Peace Force claims Eritrean forces have suffered losses and retreated. Eritrea denies any troop movement, and the US has called for de-escalation.
01Summary
- 01Ethiopian forces and the Tigray Peace Force said on 15 October 2026 they had entered the historic city of Aksum.
- 02The Tigray Peace Force claimed Eritrean forces had sustained significant casualties and were retreating towards the border.
- 03Eritrea's Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel rejected the claims as false; the reported losses could not be independently verified.
- 04ACLED documented Ethiopian forces and TPF entering Aksum and Eritrean troops withdrawing through Zalambessa.
- 05US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for de-escalation in a phone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy on 14 October 2026.
02Why it matters
The widening conflict threatens to drag in neighbouring Eritrea, destabilising the Horn of Africa and potentially disrupting regional trade and security. Tens of thousands of civilians remain caught in the fighting amid shortages of water and power.
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