The rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) Saturday warned that it will launch targeted attacks on the Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray regional state, APA can report.
The warning comes after TPLF’s army also known as the Tigray Defence Force (TDF) has started gaining territories, defeating the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) which claimed control of major cities and towns including the regional capital.
Last week ENDF and its allies Tigray Peace Force (TDF) claimed that they have dislodged TPLF forces from Mekelle and several other cities in the region
In a statement issued over the weekend, TPLF announced flight suspensions to the Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, accusing the federal government of using the airline “to transport troops” to the Tigray region. TPLF also restricted any movement in and around the airport.
The Ethiopian government on Friday announced the establishment of a six-month caretaker administration for the conflict-hit Tigray region with a range of responsibilities, including restoring peace and security, reestablishing a government structure, rebuilding damaged infrastructure, and organizing regional elections.
Former Tigray Interim Administration President Getachew Reda, who is currently the Ethiopian prime minister’s advisor on East African Affairs, characterised the TPLF’s announcement as a move along the path to terrorist activity.
He wrote on his social media page “The defunct TPLF leadership has officially admitted to having decided to resort to classic terrorist tactics in order to remind the people of Tigray that there was once such a thing as TPLF.”
The recent conflict in the region started when the TPLF seized three airports (Aksum, Mekelle, and Shire) and arrested federal police forces posted there, along with Ethiopian Airlines staff who were later released with the intervention of the Ethiopian Red Cross.
Flights were suspended to the region for about three weeks following the incident.
Last week the Ethiopian Airlines resumed six-times-daily flights to Mekelle after the Ethiopian Defense Force dislodged TPLF forces from Mekelle and several other cities in the region.
TPLF claims military gains in a counter-offensive and capture of hundreds of soldiers.
Neither Ethiopian Airlines nor the federal government has commented on whether flights will be suspended.
There are no reports of active military operations in the Mekelle area in recent days, although the TPLF is believed to have access to fighter drones.
MG/as/APA