The war in Ethiopia
Updated 10 Oct 2026
Fighting resumed across northern Ethiopia in September 2026, drawing in the federal army, Tigrayan forces, Fano militias in Amhara, armed groups in Afar and, by October, reportedly Eritrean troops. This page sums up what Frontline has recorded from sourced, graded reports, and links to the live map.
Deaths are the sum of figures given in individual reports; reports can overlap and are not a Frontline count.
Key towns
| Town | Held by | Since | Latest report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mekelle | Ethiopian National Defense Force | 3 Oct 2026 | Statement, 8 Oct 2026 |
| Adigrat | Tigray Defence Forces | 5 May 2026 | Shelling, 9 Oct 2026 |
| Shire | Ethiopian National Defense Force | 9 Oct 2026 | Control change, 9 Oct 2026 |
| Alamata | Ethiopian National Defense Force | 28 Sep 2026 | Battle, week of 28 Sep 2026 |
| Bahir Dar | No verified report | Statement, 2 Oct 2026 | |
| Gondar | No verified report | Battle, 4 Jun 2025 | |
| Abala | Ethiopian National Defense Force | 2 Oct 2026 | Battle, 26 Sep 2026 |
| Nekemte | No verified report | Attack on civilians, 14 May 2025 |
Events per day since 20 Sep 2026
Latest events
Statement · Unknown place
Flight tracking shows a Vise Air Il-76TD cargo aircraft (7Q-VZZ) flying from Al Reef Airbase in Abu Dhabi to Ethiopia on 10 October, while a Batot Air Il-76TD (XT-ABL) left Al Ain for East Africa with Ethiopia a possible destination.
Statement · Arada Sub City, Region 14, Addis Ababa
Flight tracking shows the same Aerostan Boeing 747-251B(SF) freighter (EX-47002) making a second flight from Al Ain Airport in the UAE to Bole International Airport in Ethiopia on 9 October.
Control change · Hawzen town, Eastern, Tigray
Footage shows ENDF convoys moving through the centre of Hawzen in Tigray's Eastern Zone (13.98021, 39.43101), which the monitor said confirms the ENDF took control of the town, apparently approaching from the east.
Control change · Shire Endaslasie town, North Western, Tigray
Footage shows ENDF and Tigray Peace Force convoys at Hayelom Square in Shire, the administrative centre of Tigray's Northwestern Zone, after they entered the town on 9 October.
Statement · Unknown place
Video shows a YIHA-III loitering munition that the monitor identified as captured by ENDF troops from TDF/TPLF forces at an unstated location in Ethiopia.
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.
Shelling · Adigrat town, Eastern, Tigray
An Adigrat resident reported repeated explosions of unclear origin several kilometres outside the town overnight and into Friday morning.
Drone strike · Unknown place
A drone strike near a displacement camp and informal gold mining site in Wad al-Mahi province, near Sudan's border with Ethiopia, killed 30 displaced people; the provincial governor attributed it to the RSF and said it was launched from inside Ethiopia.
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
TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael said his forces would choose when and where to confront the government.
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.
Statement · Arada Sub City, Region 14, Addis Ababa
Flight tracking shows an Aerostan Boeing 747-251B(SF) freighter (EX-47002) flying from Al Ain Airport in the UAE to Bole International Airport in Ethiopia on 8 October, a rare visit by this aircraft.
Statement · Arada Sub City, Region 14, Addis Ababa
Flight tracking shows a Vise Air Il-76TD cargo aircraft (7Q-VZZ) flying from Al Reef Airbase in the UAE to Ethiopia on 8 October, likely bound for Bole Airport, while an Invicta Air Il-76TD (TL-ATB) left Al Ain for East Africa with Ethiopia a possible destination.
Statement · Hawelti Sub City, Mekelle, Tigray
The monitor geolocated the warehouse where the ENDF displayed seized munitions and drones to a former ENDF bunker at 13.482214, 39.518136 adjoining Mekelle Airport, captured by the TDF in 2021, and assessed the haul as a mix of captured ENDF stocks and more recent TDF acquisitions.
Control change · Mehal Meda town, North Shewa (AM), Amhara
The Amhara Fano National Movement said coordinated offensives by its Shoa commands took control of ten towns in Shoa and captured 520 government troops.
Statement · Unknown place
Flight tracking shows three Il-76TD cargo aircraft (Vise Air 7Q-VZZ and 7Q-VAF, Batot Air XT-ABL) heading from Al Reef Airbase and Al Ain Airport in the UAE towards East Africa on 7 October, likely to Ethiopia.
Statement · Hawelti Sub City, Mekelle, Tigray
Footage published on 7 October shows munitions presented as seized by the ENDF from a TDF/TPLF warehouse in Mekelle, which the monitor identified as dozens of Chinese GB-25 laser-guided drone munitions, US Mk 82 and Russian FAB general-purpose bombs, R-60M and R-73 air-to-air missiles, and dismantled drones resembling Iranian Mohajer-6s.
Statement · Unknown place
The US Embassy in Addis Ababa warned of possible long-range attacks in Ethiopia, citing reports of recent strikes on military installations, and advised against travel to Amhara, Tigray and Afar.
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.
Statement · Unknown place
Eritrea's information minister accused Ethiopia of incessantly beating the drums of war, and two days later warned against touching Eritrea's sovereignty.
Control change · Shire Endaslasie town, North Western, Tigray
An aid worker said TPLF fighters and the local administration abandoned Shire on Wednesday, with four people killed in exchanges of fire linked to looting, before pro-government forces entered on Friday.
Questions and answers
Who controls Mekelle?
As of 10 Oct 2026, Frontline's map shows Mekelle as held by Ethiopian National Defense Force since 3 Oct 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, 33 drone and air strikes have been reported here; 26 of them rest on at least one independent source.
What is the latest?
The most recent report Frontline has recorded, from 10 Oct 2026: Flight tracking shows a Vise Air Il-76TD cargo aircraft (7Q-VZZ) flying from Al Reef Airbase in Abu Dhabi to Ethiopia on 10 October, while a Batot Air Il-76TD (XT-ABL) left Al Ain for East Africa with Ethiopia a possible destination.
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.