Eritrean troops advance deep into Ethiopia’s Tigray region, residents report, heightening fears of a larger conflict across the Horn of Africa.

Eritrean forces crossed the border at Zalambessa and have moved southward through the northern town of Adigrat toward the strategic junction at Edaga Hamus, according to witnesses.

The movement comes a fortnight after fighting erupted in the Tigray region between the national army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Both sides blame each other for breaching a 2022 cease‑fire that had ended a two‑year war.

Ethiopia has long accused Eritrea of supporting the TPLF, while Eritrea has denied any direct involvement. The latest clashes raise the possibility of a spill‑over into a broader regional confrontation.

Residents of Adigrat describe large convoys of trucks with Eritrean registration plates, some carrying heavy weapons and anti‑aircraft guns. Social media images show heavily loaded trucks moving toward Wukro and Mekelle.

Tension is heightened by memories of atrocities committed by Eritrean soldiers during the 2020–22 civil war. A resident of Edaga Hamus said drone strikes hit positions near the town, and local officials reported the arrival of national army troops.

The Ethiopian government’s senior official, Abraham Belay, accused Eritrea of direct participation and warned of double retaliation if the conflict continued.