Story perspectives

Tigray Forces Seize Key Airports, Ethiopian Airlines Halts Flights

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 2:01 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Federal army and Tigray People’s Liberation Front clashed on September 23 2026, spreading fighting to Afar and Amhara.
Tigrayan forces seized Mekelle, Axum and Shire airports, causing Ethiopian Airlines to suspend all flights to Tigray.
Human Rights Watch documented forced recruitment of civilians, including children as young as fifteen, by Tigrayan authorities since April.
NetBlocks reported an internet disruption in northern Ethiopia, raising fears of a communications blackout like the 2020-2022 war.

History

Historical Context

The Eritrea-Ethiopia Badme War erupted on 6 May 1998 after clashes near Badme and saw more than 500,000 troops fight until a stalemate on 18 June 2000, leaving roughly 70,000 dead and millions displaced. That border-focused conflict bred deep mistrust, which resurfaces in September 2026 as Ethiopia’s federal army battles the Tigray People’s Liberation Front over contested territories.

1 of 2

Story summary

Federal army and Tigray People’s Liberation Front clashed on September 23 2026, spreading fighting to Afar and Amhara.
Tigrayan forces seized Mekelle, Axum and Shire airports, causing Ethiopian Airlines to suspend all flights to Tigray.
Human Rights Watch documented forced recruitment of civilians, including children as young as fifteen, by Tigrayan authorities since April.
NetBlocks reported an internet disruption in northern Ethiopia, raising fears of a communications blackout like the 2020-2022 war.

1 / 2