Ethiopia warns Eritrea it will defend itself after troops cross border

Truckloads of Eritrean soldiers have been seen driving into Ethiopia, which has reportedly responded with drone strikes. Ethiopian forces took control of Tigray's main city Mekelle from rebel forces last week Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of an "all-out invasion" of its northern Tigray region and warned it will defend itself, days after residents told the BBC Eritrean troops had crossed into the country. In a letter to the UN Security Council, Ethiopia's foreign minister called it a "blatant act of aggression that engages Ethiopia's inherent right to self-defence", following reported strikes on Eritrean troops in Tigray. Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel responded by saying it was facing "an unprovoked war of aggression" from its neighbour.

Fighting broke out between the government and the party that controls Tigray, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), two weeks ago. Both blame each other for violating a 2022 deal that ended its civil war. Ethiopia says Eritrea backs the TPLF, which it denies. During the two-year civil war, Eritrea was a key ally of the Ethiopian government, having fought alongside them against the TPLF. But relations between the two neighbours have since deteriorated – largely over the Ethiopian prime minister's ambition to take ownership of one of Eritrea's Red Sea ports – leading to the severing of diplomatic ties last week. Accusing Eritrea of