Ethiopia and Eritrea
Updated 10 Oct 2026
Eritrea's army fought beside Ethiopia's federal army in 2020–22. In 2026 Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing Tigrayan forces, and Eritrean troops were reported inside Tigray in October. Frontline records each report with its sources.
Key towns
| Town | Held by | Since | Latest report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zalambessa | Tigray Defence Forces | 5 May 2026 | Drone strike, 7 Oct 2026 |
| Adigrat | Tigray Defence Forces | 5 May 2026 | Drone strike, 7 Oct 2026 |
| Shire | Ethiopian National Defense Force | 9 Oct 2026 | |
| Axum | Tigray Defence Forces | 5 May 2026 | Attack on civilians, 27 Dec 2022 |
Events per day since 20 Sep 2026
Latest events
Statement · Unknown place
Ethiopia's foreign minister called Eritrea's conduct an act of aggression justifying self-defence, while Eritrea's information minister accused Ethiopia of an unprovoked war of aggression.
Control change · Unknown place
A foreign security source estimated 5,000 to 8,000 Eritrean soldiers were present in Tigray, with various sources confirming their presence.
Statement · Unknown place
Ethiopia accused Eritrea of backing Tigrayan rebels while Eritrea accused Ethiopia of waging an unprovoked war against it.
Statement · Unknown place
Eritrea's Ministry of Information, through Minister Yemane Gebremeskel, rejected Ethiopia's invasion accusation as a pretext for a war Addis Ababa wants to start, and accused the Ethiopian government of threatening force against Eritrea for the past three years.
Statement · Unknown place
Ethiopia and Eritrea each accused the other of starting the war, with Ethiopian officials saying Eritrean forces had pushed about 60 kilometres into northern Tigray and Eritrean officials describing Ethiopia's actions as an unprovoked campaign against it spanning more than three years.
Control change · Unknown place
Unverified reports said Eritrean forces entered several unnamed towns in Tigray.
Statement · Unknown place
Eritrea's information minister neither confirmed nor denied the presence of Eritrean troops and accused Ethiopia of preparing a war to gain sea access.
Statement · Unknown place
Eritrea's information minister did not deny troops had crossed the border and accused Ethiopia of building a false self-defence narrative for a war of aggression.
Control change · Edaga Hamus town, Eastern, Tigray
A Tigray Peace Force commander said Eritrean personnel entered Idaga Hamus on Wednesday and officers were conducting surveillance there; AP could not verify.
Drone strike · Adigrat town, Eastern, Tigray
ACLED and witnesses said multiple Ethiopian drone strikes overnight hit Eritrean troops, vehicles and ammunition around Adigrat, after which Eritrean troops appeared to retreat north.
Statement · Unknown place
Gebregziabher Beyene, commander of the Tigray Peace Forces allied with Ethiopia's federal army, told AFP that incoming Eritrean troops were being struck by drones and accused Eritrea of deliberately keeping the fighting confined to Tigrayan territory.
Control change · Adigrat town, Eastern, Tigray
Residents of Adigrat told the BBC and AFP that large numbers of Eritrean soldiers, travelling by truck and on foot with heavy weapons, crossed the border and moved south through the town toward central Tigray overnight into the morning of 7 October 2026, finding no Ethiopian federal or Tigrayan forces present to oppose them.
Statement · Unknown place
In a letter to the UN Security Council dated 7 October 2026, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of sending mechanized forces 30 to 60 kilometers into three zones of Tigray and asked the Council to back Ethiopia's right to self-defense.
Control change · Wukro town, Eastern, Tigray
Government and allied Tigray Peace Force units took control of Wukro, near Adigrat, after several days of fighting, with Tigrayan and Eritrean forces withdrawing following repeated government drone strikes.
Statement · Adigrat town, Eastern, Tigray
Residents and international media, including BBC, reported seeing large numbers of Eritrean soldiers moving through Adigrat by truck and on foot toward other parts of Tigray, while a Tigray Peace Force commander said the Eritrean force was being hit by drones and accused Eritrea of deliberately keeping the fighting confined to Tigray.
Drone strike · Zala Anbesa town, Eastern, Tigray
A conflict-monitoring group reported that Ethiopian military drones struck Eritrean troops near Zelambesa and Guada as they advanced toward Idaga Hamus after crossing the border.
Statement · Edaga Hamus town, Eastern, Tigray
The same commander said Eritrean military officers entered the town of Idaga Hamus and were observed carrying out reconnaissance there on Wednesday.
Control change · Adigrat town, Eastern, Tigray
A Tigray Peace Force commander said Eritrean personnel entered Adigrat, citing his personnel in the area; AP could not verify.
Statement · Unknown place
A Tigray Peace Force commander alleged that Eritrean troops were present in northern Tigray, which AP could not verify.
Statement · Adigrat town, Eastern, Tigray
A Tigray Peace Force commander said Eritrean soldiers crossed into the Tigray town of Adigrat on Tuesday.
Drone strike · Edaga Hamus town, Eastern, Tigray
A resident of Edaga Hamus said drone strikes targeting soldiers occurred near the town as Eritrean troops passed through.
Control change · Adigrat town, Eastern, Tigray
Eritrean troops crossed the border this week and positioned themselves around Adigrat, multiple sources told AFP, before appearing to retreat north after drone strikes.
Drone strike · Unknown place
Unnamed sources said Ethiopia carried out drone strikes on Eritrean troops and vehicles that had crossed the border.
Statement · Unknown place
Ethiopia's communications minister confirmed Eritrean troops had entered Tigray and demanded they leave, and the foreign minister told the UN Security Council Eritrea had invaded.
Control change · Wukro town, Eastern, Tigray
Government forces reportedly took control of Wukro after days of fighting, with sources saying Tigray and Eritrean forces withdrew after repeated drone strikes.
Questions and answers
Who controls Zalambessa?
As of 10 Oct 2026, Frontline's map shows Zalambessa as held by Tigray Defence Forces since 5 May 2026, based on grade A sources.
Who controls Adigrat?
As of 10 Oct 2026, Frontline's map shows Adigrat as held by Tigray Defence Forces since 5 May 2026, based on grade A sources.
Who controls Shire?
As of 10 Oct 2026, Frontline's map shows Shire as held by Ethiopian National Defense Force since 9 Oct 2026, based on grade B sources.
How many drone and air strikes have been reported?
Since 20 Sep 2026, 5 drone and air strikes have been reported here; 3 of them rest on at least one independent source.
What is the latest?
The most recent report Frontline has recorded, from 9 Oct 2026: Ethiopia's foreign minister called Eritrea's conduct an act of aggression justifying self-defence, while Eritrea's information minister accused Ethiopia of an unprovoked war of aggression.
How is this information checked?
Every event links to its sources and carries a grade. Only reports confirmed by an independent source (grades A and B) move the map; a party's own claim is shown as a claim and never changes it.