Fighting continues with no regard for civilians

Key Points:

• Fighting in northern Ethiopia continues to escalate, with civilians caught in the crossfire amid disrupted communications and limited access to medical care, as reported by eyewitnesses from affected towns like Selenwuha and Alamata.
• The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) reportedly seized the strategic town of Alamata, located on a major highway south of Mekelle, while Tigrayan forces are defending other towns, signaling ongoing territorial shifts in the conflict.
• Civilians in Alamata accuse federal forces of deliberately targeting them, with attacks timed to maximize casualties during market hours; however, independent verification of these claims remains unavailable.
• The conflict intensified after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) formed a new alliance with other armed groups, including the Amhara Fano National Movement, opposing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government, leading to renewed clashes since August 2026.
• Humanitarian concerns are mounting due to damage to civilian infrastructure, disrupted essential services, and restricted evacuations, with experts warning that attacks on hospitals, schools, and shelters may constitute war crimes under international law.