Ethiopia forces said to retake Mekelle airport from Tigray fighters
People in Mekelle and sources told AP and Reuters that federal and allied forces regained Alula Aba Nega Airport on Saturday. The TPLF seized the airport Sept. 23. Neither the government nor the TPLF had confirmed the change, and who controls the city remained unclear.
AI-assisted · US Brief desk · Sources listed below
What happened
Tigray People’s Liberation Front fighters seized the airport on Sept. 23, leading Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to Mekelle, Axum, and Shire. Late Friday, the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia posted on X: “We have taken full control of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega Airport. We are currently clearing the city of Mekelle.” On Saturday, a source with knowledge of events in the city and a humanitarian source told Reuters that federal troops held the airfield. Reuters said it could not immediately verify the militia’s claim.
Why it matters
Fighting since late September has broken the November 2022 Pretoria peace deal between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and the TPLF. Retaking Mekelle’s airport would be a major setback for the opposition alliance, though analysts say it would be unlikely to end the conflict on its own. In a video message Thursday, TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael suggested his fighters would keep up guerrilla-style attacks, AFP reported.
What’s next
Whether federal forces enter Mekelle’s center, any official statements from Addis Ababa or the TPLF, whether commercial flights resume, and whether the African Union or neighbors step in as Eritrea–Ethiopia ties collapse.
More context
People in Mekelle told the Associated Press on Saturday that Ethiopian federal forces had retaken Alula Aba Nega Airport, the main airport in Tigray’s capital. Sources speaking to Reuters gave the same account. The airport is about 6 miles (10 km) east of the city center.
Limits on confirmation: Neither the Ethiopian government nor the TPLF had commented on the airport’s reported change of hands. The Prime Minister’s Office did not immediately respond to Reuters, and the TPLF could not be reached. It was not clear who controlled Mekelle itself. Residents and a local journalist told AFP that TPLF fighters and leaders were leaving the city, but federal forces had not yet been seen inside it. People feared looting. Internet and phone outages have made reporting from Tigray hard.
Regional backdrop: Ethiopia this week ordered 10 Eritrean diplomats to leave and closed its embassy in Eritrea. Eritrea said it was severing diplomatic ties. Addis Ababa has accused Eritrea of backing the TPLF. Eritrea denies that.
Humanitarian toll: Al Jazeera, citing reporting on the renewed fighting, said at least 52 civilians have been killed in northern Ethiopia. Amnesty International said Friday it had received credible reports of shelling, air strikes, and forced conscription that may violate international law. Doctors Without Borders reported a surge in wounded patients last week.
7 listed sources
- Associated Press (Amir Aman Kiyaro, Khaled Kazziha) via ClickOrlando, Oct 3, 2026: Ethiopian federal forces retake Mekelle airport from Tigrayan fighters, residents say
- Reuters, Oct 3, 2026: Pro-government forces say they retake airport in Ethiopia's Tigray region
- AFP, Oct 3, 2026: Ethiopia's Tigray rebels abandon regional capital as govt advances
- Al Jazeera (AFP and Reuters), Oct 3, 2026: Ethiopian gov’t forces advance in Tigray as rebels retreat: What to know
- Al Jazeera (AFP and Reuters), Oct 3, 2026: Ethiopia’s government forces retake airport from Tigray rebels in Mekelle
- TRT Afrika (citing Reuters), Oct 3, 2026: Ethiopia government forces retake airport in Tigray's capital, sources tell Reuters
- Sourcing note: Backbone is AP residents and Reuters/AFP unnamed sources. Neither the Ethiopian government nor the TPLF had issued an official confirmation of airport control in these reports. Eritrea’s denial of backing the TPLF is included. Amnesty and MSF figures are attributed as organizational claims. Re-checked 10:57 AM PT Oct 3: still no official confirmation from Addis Ababa or the TPLF; the airport claim comes from the pro-government Tigray Peace Forces militia (X post), unnamed Reuters sources, and AP residents. No Fox News, NY Post, Washington Examiner or Breitbart write-up found.
References listed by US Brief; a source count is not a verification score.
Editorial sourcing notes
Core: AP (Amir Aman Kiyaro / Khaled Kazziha) via ClickOrlando, Oct 3, 2026 ~1:11 p.m. — residents say federal forces retaken Alula Aba Nega Airport; timing unclear; no official comment from government or TPLF; city control unclear; looting fears; Sept 23 TPLF airport seizure and Ethiopian Airlines suspensions; AU restraint warning; Pretoria 2022 deal; Ethiopia–Eritrea diplomatic break (10 diplomats expelled; Eritrea severs ties); Addis accuses Asmara of backing TPLF, Eritrea denies. Reuters via Al Jazeera / TRT Afrika, Oct 3 — ENDF/pro-government sources and a Mekelle resident say airport retaken; gunfire outside center; airport ~10 km east of center; one of three airfields seized Sept 23. AFP via Al Jazeera — local journalist and residents say TPLF fighters and leaders leaving Mekelle; federal forces not yet seen inside city; looting/lawlessness fears. Humanitarian: Al Jazeera citing ≥52 civilian deaths; Amnesty report of shelling/air strikes and forced conscription claims. Caveat: communications blackouts hinder verification; claims attributed to unnamed sources and residents. Re-check 10:57 AM PT: no official Addis/TPLF confirmation; PMO no immediate response to Reuters, TPLF unreachable. Added Tigray Peace Forces X claim (quoted), AFP note that federal forces not yet seen inside Mekelle, Debretsion guerrilla-tactics remark; standard method note restored with verification caveat.
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