The Ethiopian government has accused forces of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of firing rockets at two cities in a neighbouring state.
The state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted the Ethiopia State of Emergency task force as saying that late Friday, rockets were fired towards the cities of Bahir Dar and Gondar in the Amhara Region.
As a result, it said the airport areas were damaged.
“The TPLF junta is repairing and utilising the last of the weaponry within its arsenals. This is indicative of TPLF’s last resort attempts to maintain control,” the State of Emergency task force said.
It added that details of the incident were currently under investigation and further details would be provided accordingly.
Regional and political tensions have risen since 2018 when newly-elected Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed merged several ethnically-based regional parties into a single national force, amid an ambitious reform programme.
Violence erupted at the start of the month in Tigray involving federal and local forces, following the reported takeover of an army base in the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle, which prompted the prime minister to order a military offensive.
Prior to the Tigray escalation, dozens of people in western Oromia region were killed and injured in attacks.
The Ethiopian Federal Government has also declared a six-month state of emergency in the Tigray Region, whose government is controlled by TPLF.
The African Union (AU) is among organisations and countries that have appealed for the immediate cessation of hostilities.
