Federal Forces Retake Mekelle Airport as TPLF Fighters and Leaders Reportedly Leave Tigray’s Capital
MEKELLE (WDN) — Ethiopia’s renewed Tigray war has entered a dramatic new phase, with federal forces and their allies closing in on Mekelle after reportedly retaking the city’s main airport and Tigrayan fighters and political leaders beginning to abandon positions inside the capital.
The developments represent the most serious battlefield setback for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) since fighting erupted again on September 23, threatening to bring the renewed conflict directly into Mekelle.
Three sources cited by Reuters confirmed that Ethiopian federal forces had regained control of Alula Aba Nega International Airport, roughly 10 kilometres from central Mekelle. A resident also reported hearing gunfire outside the city centre.
AFP, meanwhile, reported that TPLF fighters and leaders were leaving Mekelle as pro-government forces advanced toward the city. Federal troops had not yet been independently confirmed inside the city at the time of the reports.
Tigrayan Forces Begin to Withdraw
The reported departure of Tigrayan fighters could be a major turning point. A journalist and residents in Mekelle told AFP that TPLF fighters and leaders were leaving the capital, while government offices and police stations were reportedly left without security personnel. Residents expressed fears that the security vacuum could lead to looting and wider disorder.
A resident cited by Reuters also said some Tigrayan Defence Force fighters had abandoned their posts and returned home, while government facilities were being looted. Reuters said it could not independently verify those reports, and the TPLF had not immediately responded.
The reports suggest that the battle for Mekelle may be approaching a decisive stage — but they do not yet establish that the federal government has captured the city itself.
A Rapid Federal Advance
The federal advance has been remarkably fast. Pro-government Tigrayan fighters said they had captured Milazat, about 20 kilometres southeast of Mekelle, while residents told Reuters that government forces were closing in on the capital.
Earlier in the offensive, federal and allied forces also regained strategically important territory in southern Tigray, including Alamata.
The government-aligned forces have now pushed the front line deep into Tigray after reversing advances made by TPLF-led forces at the beginning of the renewed conflict.
The fighting has been the most serious escalation since the devastating 2020–2022 Tigray war.
Mekelle Faces a Dangerous Security Vacuum
For civilians, the immediate concern is no longer simply who wins the battlefield. It is what happens to the city if one force withdraws before another establishes effective control.
Banks and businesses have already closed amid fears that fighting could reach the capital. Residents have described an atmosphere of fear, while communications disruptions and movement restrictions have complicated access to information and humanitarian assistance.
The absence of police and security personnel from some government facilities could create additional risks. A peaceful transfer of control would limit civilian suffering.
A contested entry into the city, however, could produce another round of urban fighting in a population centre that has already endured the consequences of war. Even if federal forces ultimately take full control of Mekelle, that would not necessarily mean the conflict is over.
The TPLF and allied forces have fought from difficult terrain before, and the 2020 war demonstrated how quickly control of Mekelle could change. Federal forces captured the city during that conflict, only for the TPLF to retake it months later. Reuters noted that history as a warning against assuming that control of the capital alone would settle the conflict.
The current war is also considerably broader than a confrontation between Addis Ababa and Mekelle.
An alliance led by the TPLF has been fighting federal forces and their allies, while the conflict has spread into neighbouring Amhara and Afar regions.
Ethiopia has also accused Eritrea, Sudan and Egypt of supporting the opposition alliance. Those countries have denied the allegations, while the African Union has urged restraint.
The diplomatic dimension therefore makes the battle for Mekelle potentially much more consequential than a conventional regional confrontation.
The Humanitarian Stakes
Tigray is home to millions of people, and the renewed fighting has already disrupted civilian life.
Electricity and communications have been affected, roads have been disrupted and civilians have begun moving away from areas where fighting is occurring. Humanitarian organizations are attempting to maintain access as the front lines shift.
The immediate priority for civilians in Mekelle is therefore clear: security, functioning public services and protection from revenge, looting and indiscriminate violence.
Whatever happens on the battlefield, the city’s population cannot afford another prolonged siege or a repeat of the devastation witnessed during the previous war.
A Decisive Moment for Ethiopia
The federal advance has placed Mekelle within reach of government forces and appears to have triggered a withdrawal by some Tigrayan fighters and leaders.
But the next few days could determine whether the development becomes a rapid change of control or the beginning of another prolonged phase of war.
For Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, capturing Mekelle would represent a major military achievement. For the TPLF, losing the capital would be a severe setback but not necessarily the end of its ability to continue fighting.
And for the people of Tigray, the overriding question is far more basic: Will the approach of federal forces bring the restoration of order — or will Mekelle become the opening battlefield of another devastating chapter in Ethiopia’s northern war?
WardheerNews