Ethiopian gov’t forces advance in Tigray as rebels retreat: What to know

Ethiopia’s military and pro-government forces have recaptured the main airport in Mekelle , the capital of Tigray, as the government forces advanced in the northern region after more than a week of intense fighting. Fighting erupted last week between the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and its allies, shattering the fragile Pretoria Agreement, a peace deal signed in November 2022. The fighting has stoked fears that it could escalate into a wider regional conflict, potentially drawing in neighbouring countries in the Horn of Africa.