More Ethiopian air strikes hit Tigray region - rebels

Kalkidan Yibeltal

BBC News, Addis Ababa

Tigrayan forces in northern Ethiopia have accused the government of conducting more drone strikes in the region’s capital, Mekelle.

Getachew Reda, a senior figure of the rebel forces, tweeted on Wednesday that civilians were killed in the strikes at a residential area.

He has not provided figures of casualties and there hasn’t been independent confirmation of the claims.

But a doctor in Ayder Hospital, one of the largest health facilities in Mekelle, tweeted that two female adults went to the hospital with injuries sustained during the strikes.

“One was inside her compound and the other just at the gate of her compound going out,” the doctor, Fasika Amdeslasie, said.

The TPLF rebels have been waging a near two-year war against the government that has killed thousands.

The latest air strikes come after the Tigrayan forces accused the government of a similar attack on Tuesday. Addis Ababa has not yet responded to both accusations.

Violence returned to northern Ethiopia three weeks ago after five months of relative peace.

Fighting appears to be continuing despite calls by the international community for de-escalation and the Tigrayan forces' declaration of willingness for a mutually agreed cessation of hostilities.

This article originally appeared in BBC News

Photo: AFP