What happened
Fighting between Ethiopia's national army and the Tigray People's Liberation Front resumed in late September, restarting a conflict that had officially ended in 2022. Within two weeks, federal forces entered Mekelle, the regional capital, and most other major towns with little resistance.
The TPLF described its pullback as a strategic withdrawal rather than a defeat. A spokesperson said fighters intentionally allowed the army to advance deeper into Tigray so they could be confronted on more favourable terrain. The group claims it has since launched attacks against Ethiopian forces in several locations.
Residents in central, northern and north-western Tigray report continued fighting involving heavy artillery and drone strikes. Around Sheraro, near the Eritrean border, witnesses described recent artillery fire and ground-force movements. Military checkpoints remain active in southern towns such as Yechila.
Federal military sources say operations against the TPLF are continuing across northern and central Tigray, and that the group's capabilities are being degraded. Security analysts are divided on whether the region faces a prolonged war or a low-level insurgency.
Many residents say daily life remains difficult. A Mekelle salon owner told the BBC that people lack money and morale, and business is almost non-existent. She said uncertainty about the future weighs heavily on the population.
