{"id":12520,"date":"2021-10-19T05:29:21","date_gmt":"2021-10-19T05:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/axumawian.com\/?p=12520"},"modified":"2021-10-19T05:29:24","modified_gmt":"2021-10-19T05:29:24","slug":"tigray-ethiopian-government-admits-mekelle-airstrike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/axumawian.com\/?p=12520","title":{"rendered":"Tigray: Ethiopian government admits Mekelle airstrike"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ethiopia has admitted it was behind airstrikes in the capital of the conflict-riven Tigray region – hours after it denied it had carried out what rebels say were deadly raids.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: BBC<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

October 19, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The state-run news agency said the attacks had targeted rebel’s communications and weapons facilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But media controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said three civilians had been killed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rebel group is at war with Ethiopia’s federal government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government initially denied the allegations it had struck targets in Tigray’s capital, Mekelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Why would the Ethiopian government attack its own city? Mekelle is an Ethiopian city,” government spokesman Legesse Tulu asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs went on to accuse the TPLF of killing at least 30 civilians in recent attacks in Amhara and Afar regional states, which both border Tigray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Terrorists are the ones who attack cities with innocent civilians in them, not government,” Mr Legesse added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But hours afterwards, state media said it had carried out successful strikes with the aim of preventing civilian casualties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The TPLF still says this is not the case, accusing the government of deliberately carrying out two strikes on market day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the TPLF, which regards itself as the legitimate authority in Tigray, has not responded to the allegations its forces were behind the deaths of any civilians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is difficult to independently confirm details as there is a communications blackout in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ethiopian army took control of most of the northern region of Tigray in November 2020, after TPLF forces seized a military base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since then, the 11-month conflict has caused a humanitarian crisis, with the United Nations warning in July that about 400,000 people were living in famine-like conditions in Tigray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict, and another two million have been forced to flee their homes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June 2021, the rebels recaptured Tigray in a surprise attack, and then moved into parts of neighbouring regions like Amhara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ethiopia has declared the TPLF a terrorist organisation, but the TPLF insists that it is the legitimate government in Tigray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Tigray – the basics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n