Army claims it repelled attacks

Ethiopia's army says it has repelled attacks from Tigrayan forces and their allies in the north, in its first statement since fighting broke out on Wednesday.

Fighting started in Amhara region

The army said hostilities began in an area of Amhara region close to the border with Tigray, and that its soldiers had inflicted heavy casualties and seized weapons.

TPLF seized three airports

On Wednesday, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which dominates the region, seized control of three airports from federal police.

Tensions escalate after years of peace

The latest escalation follows months of rising tensions between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government and Tigray authorities, who fought a devastating war from two thousand twenty to two thousand twenty-two.

Previous war killed six hundred thousand

The two thousand twenty to two thousand twenty-two conflict was one of the most deadly this century. The African Union's mediator estimated some six hundred thousand people died as fighting drove the region to the precipice of famine.

Mekelle residents fear economic collapse

A Mekelle resident told the BBC that the biggest problem was economic, with people not having enough cash. He said people were in grave danger because there is almost no cash and communications could be cut off.

“people are going to be in grave danger because there is almost no cash”