Eritrean troops drive through northern Ethiopian town, witnesses say

Key Points:

• Eritrean soldiers were seen driving through the northern Ethiopian town of Adigrat, marking the first confirmed presence of Eritrean troops on Ethiopian soil during the recent conflict between Ethiopia's federal government and a northern rebel alliance.
• Eritrea's information minister denied the presence of Eritrean forces in Ethiopia, calling the reports part of an Ethiopian plan to justify aggression against Eritrea, while Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting the rebel alliance fighting in Tigray, Amhara, and Afar regions.
• Witnesses identified Eritrean soldiers by their distinct off-white camouflage uniforms, and experts noted that Eritrean forces crossed the border at Zelambesa and moved south toward Adigrat, with Ethiopian military drone strikes reportedly targeting Eritrean vehicles.
• The conflict in northern Ethiopia raises fears of a wider regional war, given Eritrea's historical involvement in the Tigray conflict, tensions with neighboring Sudan and Egypt, and the fragile geopolitical landscape of the Horn of Africa.
• The US State Department has urged both Eritrea and Ethiopia to exercise restraint to avoid escalating the conflict, which could threaten US cooperation with both countries.