An Ethiopian military commander has reported drone strikes in Tigray at the same time that markets reopened in the regional capital, Mekelle, according to The Washington Post.
The reported strikes come amid a widening conflict in Ethiopia's north. Al Jazeera reported that blasts were heard in Addis Ababa, while the BBC reported that forces of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) withdrew from Mekelle.
Reuters reported that airstrikes and artillery hit northern Ethiopia as government and rebel forces clashed, citing sources. Separately, the Addis Standard reported that residents said drone strikes killed civilians, including internally displaced people, in Shiraro and Adwa in Tigray.
The accounts from the commander, residents and news outlets could not be independently verified from the material available. Details on casualties, the number of strikes or the specific targets were not provided in the reporting summarized here.
The reopening of markets in Mekelle followed the TPLF withdrawal from the city, an indication that some civilian activity was resuming even as military operations continued nearby.
The situation remains fluid, with reports of strikes and clashes emerging from multiple locations in the north. What to watch next is whether the reported strikes and fighting continue, and how the withdrawal of TPLF forces from Mekelle affects control of the regional capital.
