Ethiopian government forces have reportedly deployed tanks and heavy weapons toward the Eritrean border following advances through northern Tigray, raising fears of a renewed military confrontation between the neighbouring countries.
According to conflict-monitoring reports released on Wednesday by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), the military movement could heighten tensions between Addis Ababa and Asmara amid an increasingly hostile diplomatic standoff.
“Eyewitnesses observed a substantial convoy of tanks and heavy weaponry advancing from Adigrat toward Fatsi and Zalambessa,” ACLED reported, referring to two strategically important towns near the Eritrean frontier.
The organisation said the movement began overnight on Monday and continued into Tuesday, following the capture of the towns by Ethiopian troops and allied Tigray Peace Force (TPF) fighters.
The deployment has raised concerns that the ongoing military operations in northern Ethiopia could develop into a wider conflict involving Eritrea.
Ethiopian Forces Advance Toward Border
The US-based Critical Threats Project, a security research organisation, reported in its Tuesday assessment that Ethiopian forces had advanced approximately 37 kilometres (23 miles) north from Adigrat to Zalambessa without encountering substantial resistance.
The organisation also reported that Eritrean troops had established defensive positions north of Zalambessa, citing open-source military monitoring. However, the extent of Eritrea's military deployment could not be independently confirmed.
ACLED said Eritrean forces previously stationed along the Zalambessa-Fatsi corridor withdrew across the border on Monday, while rival Tigrayan fighters retreated toward Debre Damo and Irob.
The reported withdrawal does not establish that all Eritrean troops have left Ethiopian territory, and the situation along other sections of the border remains unclear.
The latest advances form part of an Ethiopian counteroffensive against forces linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), whose renewed military campaign has destabilised northern Ethiopia.
The Tigray Peace Force is aligned with Ethiopia's federal government, while the rival Tigray Defense Forces are associated with the TPLF.
The competing alliances have further complicated the security situation in Tigray, where previous fighting caused widespread destruction and a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
Eritrea Rejects Allegations of Military Incursions
The military buildup comes amid an escalating diplomatic dispute, with Ethiopia accusing Eritrea of sending troops into Tigray and supporting armed groups opposed to the Ethiopian government.
Eritrea has rejected the allegations, accusing Addis Ababa of seeking to justify military action against its territory.
Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel described Ethiopia's position as an attempt to pursue what he called “an unprovoked war of aggression.”
The Eritrean government has also called for international intervention.
Foreign Minister Osman Saleh urged the United Nations Security Council to “take the requisite deterrent measures against it in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN Charter.”
Chapter VII of the UN Charter provides the Security Council with authority to address threats to international peace and security, including through sanctions and, where authorised, military measures.
Ethiopia, meanwhile, has warned that it would respond to what it considers a threat to its territorial integrity.
In a letter to the Security Council, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos stated that his country had “no option but to defend itself against Eritrea.”
The exchange of accusations has intensified concerns that the longstanding tensions between the two countries could spill over into direct military confrontation.
Red Sea Access Adds to Regional Tensions
The dispute is further complicated by Ethiopia's longstanding demand for access to the Red Sea, an issue that has become a significant source of friction between the neighbouring countries.
Ethiopia, which became landlocked when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, has repeatedly described maritime access as important to its economic development and regional trade.
Eritrea, however, views Ethiopia's pursuit of access to the Red Sea as a potential threat to its sovereignty and territorial integrity, particularly in relation to the strategic port of Assab.
Any attempt to secure access through arrangements that threaten Eritrean territory could deepen the existing tensions, making the issue a significant factor in the wider regional security dispute.
Fragile Peace Between Former Allies
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a devastating border war between 1998 and 2000 before restoring diplomatic relations in 2018.
Eritrean troops subsequently supported Ethiopia's federal government during the 2020–2022 Tigray war, when federal forces fought the TPLF and its affiliated forces.
However, relations between the former allies deteriorated following the Pretoria peace agreement, which was signed in November 2022 to end the major phase of the Tigray conflict.
The agreement was intended to halt hostilities and establish a framework for restoring stability in the region. Renewed fighting and the latest military movements threaten to undermine those efforts.
The reported deployment of Ethiopian tanks and heavy weapons toward the Eritrean border has therefore heightened concerns over the durability of the peace process and the possibility of a broader regional conflict.
Although the full scale of the military deployments remains uncertain, the combination of advancing forces, competing territorial allegations and increasingly hostile diplomatic statements has placed relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara under renewed strain.
The situation remains fluid, with further developments likely to depend on the movements of forces along the border and whether diplomatic efforts can prevent the confrontation from escalating into direct hostilities between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
