Drone strikes hit towns in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, killing one
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Drone strikes hit two towns and one district in the central zone of Ethiopia’s Tigray region late Friday and early Saturday, killing one person and wounding another, according to local police and information obtained by the BBC.
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The fatal strike occurred in the town of Entcho, where one civilian was killed and another injured, police told BBC Tigrinya. The reported attacks came amid renewed clashes between federal government forces and Tigray forces.
Police and other local sources said the strikes targeted the towns of Entcho and Gendebeta, as well as Ahferom district. In Entcho and Gendebeta, the drones reportedly struck vehicles.
Entcho police chief Tesfay Amare said two vehicles inside the town were hit in a drone attack between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday.
The town’s communications office posted images on Facebook showing two cargo trucks damaged in the strike. One truck appeared to have significant damage to its rear section, with part of its tarpaulin-covered load torn open. Green bananas were visible spilling from the exposed cargo area.
Details from Ahferom district were not immediately available. There was no immediate comment from the Ethiopian federal government on the reported strikes.
- Locations: Entcho and Gendebeta towns; Ahferom district, central Tigray
- Casualties: One person killed, one injured in Entcho, per local police
- Targets: Vehicles struck in Entcho and Gendebeta
- Timing: Late Friday and early Saturday; Entcho hit between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday
- Official response: No immediate comment from the federal government
The BBC’s Tigrinya service reported the attacks based on police accounts and local sources. The strikes follow reports of renewed fighting involving federal and Tigray forces, underscoring the volatility that has persisted in the region.
As of Saturday, officials had not provided information on the broader scale of the strikes or the extent of damage beyond the vehicles hit in Entcho and Gendebeta. The nature of the aircraft involved and the parties responsible were not immediately clear, and independent verification of the reported incidents was not available.
Authorities urged residents to exercise caution, but no evacuation orders were announced. Additional updates were expected as local offices assessed damage and gathered information from affected areas.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
