The Ethiopian military on Tuesday announced it has successfully taken control of three towns from rebel forces in the embattled northern Tigray region, reported The Reuters.
“The ENDF [Ethiopian National Defense Force] has taken control of the towns of Shire, Alamata and Korem without fighting in urban areas,” the government said in a statement on Tuesday.
The army has taken the towns of Shire, in the region’s northwest, and Alamata and Korem in the south from Tigrayan control.
According to the statement, Ethiopian forces had taken utmost care to protect the civilians. It said the three towns were taken without fighting in urban areas, adding that authorities will coordinate with humanitarian groups in the areas that have come under the control of Ethiopian military forces.
The conflict between Ethiopia’s military and Tigrayan rebel forces broke out in November 2020. Tens of thousands of people are believed to have been killed in the conflict and millions of people in northern Ethiopia, including the regions of Amhara and Afar, have been displaced.
Fighting resumed between Tigray forces and Ethiopian federal troops in August, bringing an end to a cease-fire in place since March. Eritrean troops are also fighting, on the side of Ethiopia’s federal military.
Ethiopia is currently under immense pressure to begin the peace talks that were scheduled to kick off this month in South Africa. They were delayed because of logistical issues.
On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the situation in northern Ethiopia is spiraling out of control.
Notably, the U.N. as well as the African Union are urging an immediate cease-fire.
On Sunday, African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat urged rivl Ethiopian factions to recommit to dialogue as per their agreement in South Africa.
The Tigrayan rebel leaders welcomed the AU’s call and said they would respect an internationally backed ceasefire.
