Following renewed fighting in Tigray, the Ethiopian Air Force has claimed its troops have shot down a plane that had entered the country from Sudanese airspace believed to have been carrying arms bound for rebels of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
”A plane that is believed to be from our historical enemies who have been working to weaken Ethiopia is shot down by the brave Ethiopian Air Force while entering Ethiopian airspace from the direction of Sudan” a statement attributed to the country’s air force said.
Major General Tesfaye Ayalew was quoted in the same statement as saying that the plane was trying to head to Tigray through Northern Humera, a border town the TPLF have been attempting to seize so as to control the route to Sudan.
He was it was attempting to deliver arms to the TPLF against which Ethiopian federal troops have resumed hostilities.
The size of the plane is unspecified and it is still unclear how many crew members were on board the plane or if there is any survivor.
The news about the plane came at a time when the Ethiopian government announced on Wednesday that the TPLF has officially started war in the eastern front in the area the rebels consider as “South Tigray.”
State media did not say if the TPLF forces were pushed back to their original Tigray region.
TPLF’s latest round of offensive was expected for a long time, former US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Tibor Nagy, tweeted.
“Rumors circulating that the Tigray war will restart. Who in their right mind wants a new conflict with so much death, destruction, suffering and devastation!? Especially when there is a road to peace – as rocky as it is. #Ethiopia needs peace and stability to achieve its potential” the tweet said.
MG/as/APA