Ethiopian Forces Secure Town of Adwa After TPLF Withdrawal

Ethiopian troops moved into Adwa on Sunday without meeting resistance, according to people on the ground. The town sits roughly 40 kilometers from Eritrea's border in northern Tigray. Federal forces and a partner militia took control just one day after fighters linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front pulled out of the area.

Flights restarted immediately afterward. Ethiopian Airlines began flying from Addis Abba to Mekelle, the regional capital, for the first time since September 23. That date marks when a seven-group armed alliance seized the airport and started fighting federal troops. Getachew Reda, a former Tigray leader who now advises Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, addressed supporters at the airport with Redwan Hussein, Ethiopia's intelligence chief. He told them he would bring visible change beyond mere hope.

The mood inside Adwa remains heavy. A local resident who asked not to be named said all shops are closed. He reported that government buildings and Adwa Hospital faced looting last night. Another anonymous source confirmed the TPLF forces withdrew but added that government troops have not yet reached the town center. The roads sit empty. Fear of theft runs high among residents.

A conflict monitor called ACLED noted drone strikes hit a hotel in Adwa on October 4. Between five and nine people were wounded, including security personnel. They received medical care at local hospitals. Some sources within ACLED suggested TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael and other top officials might have been at the hotel during the attack. The group stressed that this specific detail has not been verified.

Ethiopia has accused Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of supporting the rebel alliance. Officials in Khartoum and Cairo denied any involvement. Last week, Eritrea severed diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after accusations surfaced. That nation fought alongside the federal army during the 2020-2022 war before cutting relations over these claims.

TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa declined to comment on the latest developments. He stated he did not wish to make a statement regarding the situation in Adwa.