Ethiopian Government Forces Enter Tigray Capital and Recapture Airport

Ethiopian federal forces have entered the capital city of Tigray as rebel fighters retreat across the northern region. Al Arabiya English reported that federal troops entered the regional capital on October 3. Al Jazeera and Reuters both reported that Ethiopian government forces advanced into the territory while rebel groups retreated. [1][2][4]

Pro-government forces have also taken control of key strategic infrastructure near the city. TRT World and France 24 both reported that pro-government forces claimed to have recaptured the main airport in the capital of Tigray. Al Jazeera and Reuters also noted that government forces retook the capital airport as regional tensions escalated. Reuters had reported on October 2 that Ethiopian forces were nearing the capital city while fears grew of a wider conflict. [1][3][4][5]

Religious leaders have responded to the military escalation with calls for an end to the fighting. According to Al Jazeera, Vatican News reported that Ethiopia's Catholic Bishops issued a pastoral appeal for peace and reconciliation in the region. [1]

The clashes follow a major insurgent campaign launched against the central government. On 23 September 2026, the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Coalition for Survival, a coalition of various Ethiopian rebel and insurgent groups, launched a large-scale military offensive against the Federal Government of Ethiopia in Tigray, Afar, and Amhara. [6]