Ethiopia's army says it has repelled attacks in first comment on fresh fighting

Ethiopia's army says it has repelled attacks from Tigrayan forces and their allies in parts of the north of the country, in its first statement since fighting broke out on Wednesday. The army said hostilities began in an area of Amhara region close to the border with Tigray, adding that its soldiers had inflicted heavy casualties and seized weapons. The developments come as tensions between the federal government and Tigrayan leaders have sharply escalated over the last few days, raising fears that a devastating civil war could resume. On Wednesday, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominates the region, seized control of three airports from federal police.