Renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region has triggered fresh casualties and a sharp political backlash against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.
Clashes Near Aksum and Rising Casualties
Fighting erupted in early November 2026 as Ethiopia’s rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) launched a counteroffensive against federal government forces and allied militias in the northern Tigray region, according to Anadolu Ajansı. The clashes occurred Saturday near the historic city of Aksum.
Based on information from the TPLF-linked Dimtsi Weyane television network, the publication stated that the insurgent organization asserted its combatants eliminated 500 fighters—among them two regiment commanders—and inflicted severe injuries on another 800 within the Naeder district localities of Daero Hafash and May Tmqet. Government troops had reportedly advanced from Aksum and Mahbere Dego before encountering resistance from TPLF fighters, who also stated they captured territory, weapons, ammunition, food supplies, and medical equipment.
Federal forces used artillery and drones to support their operations, while telephone and internet services suffered disruptions in the area. The Ethiopian government has not commented on the casualty figures, which remain unverified independently.
Tigrayans Turn Against the TPLF
The military escalation coincides with a growing civilian backlash against the TPLF inside Tigray. Six years after joining the pro-autonomy party out of outrage over wartime atrocities, 32-year-old Tsegay Girmay told reporters that he is pleased the movement is on the verge of disappearing
, adding that the situation on the ground shows it has no chance of returning to power.
In late September, the TPLF joined other armed groups in an offensive aimed at overthrowing federal leaders, but pro-government forces using drones quickly repelled them. Federal authorities formally took control of Tigray from the rebels in October, establishing a six-month interim administration and promising to organize elections.
For many residents, the TPLF’s recent tactical alignment with neighboring Eritrea recalled painful memories of abuses during the 2020–2022 Tigray war. Genet Hailu, a resident of the regional capital Mekelle, condemned the cooperation.
They committed massacres and sexual violence against Tigrayans.
Genet Hailu, Mekelle resident
Hailu added that the party had lost local and diaspora support, citing documented forced recruitment of children.
As a Tigrayan mother, I cried, beat the ground in anger and cursed the TPLF, praying that it would never come back to power.
Genet Hailu, Mekelle resident
Regional Fault Lines and Unresolved Peace Pacts
The renewed hostilities threaten to deepen instability across a broader region already strained by shifting alliances. In a separate series of claims, Khartoum accused Ethiopian authorities of permitting the launch of 70 drone strikes from their soil between February and October, alongside assertions that Addis Ababa backs the Rapid Support Forces in Sudan.
Political analysis highlights that the post-war settlement established by the 2022 Pretoria agreement has faced profound structural hurdles. According to an analysis published by The Elephant, the failure to fully reintegrate Tigray and attempts to strip the region of a legal identity remain central drivers behind the peace process stalling. Disagreements over institutions ultimately caused initiatives such as disarmament efforts, the resettlement of displaced citizens, and the restoration of Tigray’s pre-war constitutional boundaries to stall out.
Despite the widespread local backlash, some residents continue to back the rebel movement out of fear of federal authority. Gebremichael Abebe, a 52-year-old resident of Axum, expressed concern that the current federal government wants to destroy us
and stated his belief that the TPLF will emerge victorious and return to power.