Tigray forces seize main airport in northern Ethiopia from police, residents tell the BBC

Tigrayan forces have reportedly seized the main airport in Dessie, a strategically vital city located in Ethiopia's Amhara region, according to accounts from residents who have communicated with the BBC. This significant development intensifies the already precarious tensions between the Ethiopian federal government, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). The reported capture of the airport raises serious concerns about a potential resurgence of large-scale warfare in the northern territories of Ethiopia, a region that has already endured immense suffering.

The Dessie airport, as a critical transportation and logistical hub, represents a key piece of infrastructure. Its control by the TPLF could substantially enhance their operational capabilities, facilitating troop movements, supply lines, and potentially enabling broader offensives. Dessie itself holds considerable strategic importance, situated within the Amhara region, which has been a significant theatre of the ongoing conflict. The conflict initially erupted in November 2020, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military offensive into Tigray following alleged attacks by TPLF forces on federal military bases. The TPLF, which had been the ruling party in the Tigray region for nearly three decades prior to the conflict, has since been engaged in a protracted and brutal struggle against the Ethiopian federal government and its allied forces, notably including militias from the Amhara region.

The protracted conflict has precipitated a severe humanitarian catastrophe, characterized by widespread displacement of civilian populations, extensive destruction of infrastructure, and deeply disturbing reports of atrocities committed by all parties involved. International organizations, including the United Nations and various humanitarian NGOs, have consistently appealed for an immediate cessation of hostilities and have urged all sides to engage in meaningful dialogue to achieve a peaceful and lasting resolution. To date, the Ethiopian federal government has not issued an official statement regarding the reported seizure of the Dessie airport. However, this event underscores the extreme fragility of any peace process and highlights the persistent and formidable challenges in establishing enduring stability within Ethiopia. The TPLF's recent advances into the Amhara region represent a significant and worrying escalation in the war, which has been marked by fluid frontlines and complex, often opaque, political maneuvering. The international community remains vigilant, closely monitoring the unfolding situation and continuing to implore all belligerents to de-escalate their actions and pursue diplomatic avenues to avert further bloodshed and alleviate the profound humanitarian suffering.