(3 minutes read)
- Tigrayan rebels claimed that that they have captured the northern Ethiopian town of Kombolcha
- If the assertion is true, it will be a major victory for the rebels in the ongoing war, which now lasted for close to a year
- However, there is no source to verify the claims of the rebels since the journalists are not allowed to enter the area
- In the meantime, there are reports that the federal forces began a battle to recapture the strategic city of Dessie. Which was earlier captured by the rebel forces.
Tigrayan rebels claimed that they have captured the northern Ethiopian town of Kombolcha. If the assertion is true, it will be a major victory for the rebels in the ongoing war, which now lasted for close to a year. However, there is no source to verify the claims of the rebels since the journalists are not allowed to enter the area. The rebels’ outfit is known as Tigray People’s Liberation Front. In the meantime, there are reports that the federal forces began a battle to recapture the strategic city of Dessie. Which was earlier captured by the rebel forces.
The announcement by the TPLF came a day after it claimed control of Dessie. If it is true, it is a major victory for the group in the nearly year-long war after it retook most of Tigray from federal forces in June. It also expanded its footprints into neighbouring regions as well.
Enry to most parts of northern Ethiopia is banned to journalists. Therefore, these claims by the liberation and federal forces cannot be verified. The conflict in Kombolcha, south of Dessie, has fired speculation that the TPLF was heading closer to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The Tigray region has been subjected to almost daily aerial bombardments by the Ethiopian air force over the past two weeks. According to the TPLF, the bombings have targeted civilian areas including hospitals. The hostilities have caused widespread displacement. The UN sources point out that fights have left about 400,000 displaced.
