Ethiopia’s army said it repelled attacks by Tigrayan forces and their allies in parts of the north of the country, its first military statement since fighting resumed on September 24, 2026, according to the BBC.

On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominates the region, seized control of three airports from federal police, including the one in Mekelle, and Ethiopian Airlines cancelled flights to Tigray, the BBC reports. Residents of Mekelle said the city is calm but tense, with fighting outside the city limits and the risk of communications being cut and of cash shortages, according to the BBC.