Sharjah 24 – AFP: Tigrayan rebels on Sunday said they have captured the northern Ethiopian town of Kombolcha, marking a rapid advance by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) as federal forces mounted a fresh battle to retake the strategic city of Dessie.
The announcement by the TPLF came a day after it claimed control of Dessie, a major victory for the group in the nearly year-long war after it retook most of Tigray from federal forces in June and expanded into neighbouring regions.
"Firmly in control of #Kombolcha," TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda said on Twitter.
Much of northern Ethiopia is under a communications blackout and access for journalists is restricted, making battlefield claims difficult to independently verify.
The fighting in Kombolcha, south of Dessie, has fuelled speculation that the TPLF was heading closer to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
Getachew said the TPLF, who dominated national politics for three decades until 2018, had no "other motive than breaking the deadly siege" on Tigray, which is in the throes of a severe humanitarian crisis.
To the north of Kombolcha, the city of Dessie also saw renewed gun battles, with Ethiopian troops ordering residents to stay indoors, despite reportedly retreating a day earlier.
A statement from the Ethiopian military communications office earlier said troops "are fighting to eliminate the invading force once and for all".
For an optimal experience, please
