Ethiopia’s Tigray Region Alleges Drone Strike by Addis Ababa Near Mekelle Mekelle, Ethiopia – August 18, 2026 – Authorities in Ethiopia’s Tigray region have publicly accused the federal government in Addis Ababa of launching a drone strike near the regional capital, Mekelle.
The attack is alleged to have targeted a farmer training center in Dandera village, situated roughly 15 kilometers outside Mekelle.
A local priest, who preferred to remain anonymous, reported witnessing the aftermath of the strike, indicating that one fighter was killed and two others were wounded.
The projectile reportedly landed on farmland adjacent to a school and near a watering hole used by local farmers for their livestock.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the region, has stated that there were no civilian injuries, though it has not provided additional details regarding the incident.
The TPLF also claimed that the drone strike was an attempt to escalate tensions. Tensions between the Tigray region and the Ethiopian government have been on the rise in recent weeks, with both sides amassing forces along the regional border. This has raised concerns about the potential for a resurgence of conflict, less than four years after a peace deal brought an end to a devastating civil war that claimed at least 600,000 lives.
The Ethiopian federal army has yet to comment on the accusations.
The lack of an official response from the Ethiopian government has further intensified the tensions between the two sides.
The recent drone strike incident is not the first of its kind in the region. Both the TPLF and the Ethiopian government have been accused of conducting drone strikes against each other in the past.
However, without official confirmation from either side, verifying the claims remains challenging.
The conflict in the Tigray region began in late 2020 following tensions over parliamentary elections and allegations of Ethiopian government corruption.
The conflict was eventually resolved with the Pretoria Peace Agreement in November 2022. Despite the peace deal, high tensions and sporadic clashes have persisted.
The current escalation and the drone strike near Mekelle raise concerns about the potential for a full — scale conflict to break out again in the region.
As both sides continue to amass forces along the regional border, the situation remains fragile and unpredictable.
The international community has been closely monitoring the situation in the Tigray region, with calls for restraint and dialogue from various organizations.
The recent drone strike has added to the urgency of finding a peaceful resolution to the ongoing tensions between the TPLF and the Ethiopian government.
As the situation unfolds, the world watches to see how both sides will respond to the latest incident and whether a lasting peace can be achieved in the Tigray region.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Africanews
Source: Rédaction Africanews
