Ethiopia retakes key towns from rebels - government

By Mary Harper

The government of Ethiopia says it has retaken the strategic towns of Dessie and Kombolcha seized last month by Tigrayan fighters. 

The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has not yet commented and there is no independent confirmation of the government's statement.

The federal authorities claim they've made significant advances against the Tigrayans in recent days. 

It's believed that the use of drones has been key. 

The leader of the TPLF says his forces have withdrawn from parts of the Afar and Amhara regions. 

Debretsion Gebremichael said he didn't want to give details of why they had pulled back at a time when they were closing in on the capital Addis Ababa.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

Photo: AFP