Key developments: Ethiopia’s foreign ministry has formally told the UN Security Council that it must act in self‑defence, alleging Eritrean troops have crossed the border and moved up to 60 km into northern Tigray. Reports confirm Eritrean forces have entered the Tigray region, with German outlet DW Amharic spotting units around Adigrat and heading toward Mekelle. Ethiopian forces have seized the city of Adigrat and Idaga Hamus, both now under ENDF and Tigray Peace Force control, while also capturing a cache of advanced weapons—including Chinese laser‑guided drones, US bombs, Russian missiles and Iranian‑type UAVs—at a TDF/TPLF warehouse in Mekelle. Witnesses say Eritrean troops are driving through northern towns, and explosions were heard in Addis Ababa.
Why it matters: The alleged incursion marks a sharp escalation in the Ethiopia‑Eritrea rivalry, threatening to broaden the Tigray conflict and destabilise the Horn of Africa. Control of key towns and the seizure of sophisticated armaments could shift the balance of power on the ground, while diplomatic friction at the UN raises the risk of wider regional involvement.
What to watch next: Follow UN deliberations on Ethiopia’s self‑defence claim, monitor further movements of Eritrean units toward Mekelle, watch for additional weapon seizures that could influence combat dynamics, and track any retaliatory actions—such as strikes in Addis Ababa—that may signal a deepening of hostilities. [[1]]