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Ethiopian federal forces reportedly moved tanks and heavy weapons toward the Eritrean border as their advance through the northern Tigray region continued, according to an update published on October 13 by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED), which monitors the conflict. Witnesses said a large convoy carrying tanks and heavy arms traveled from Adigrat toward Fatsi and Zalambessa during a shipment that began on the night of October 12 and continued into October 13.

The reported movement followed the capture of Fatsi and Zalambessa, both near the Eritrean border, on October 12 by Ethiopian federal forces and the state-backed Tigray Peace Force. ACLED said Eritrean units deployed along that line withdrew to their own territory through Zalambessa, while forces linked to the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) moved toward Debre Damo and Irob. The group also reported that federal forces and their allies entered Aksum, with TPLF fighters positioned in mountainous rural areas near the city.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos, in an October 8 letter, alleged that Eritrean troops had entered Ethiopian territory and demanded their withdrawal, telling the UN Security Council that Ethiopia had no choice but to defend itself. Eritrea rejected that justification, accusing Addis Ababa of seeking forced access to the Red Sea and asking the council for deterrent measures, without explicitly confirming or denying the reported incursion. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to halt fighting and resume dialogue under the Pretoria Agreement, warning that the tensions could further weaken regional stability. The 2022 accord ended the 2020-2022 war, and fighting that flared again in September has raised doubts about its future.

Key Takeaways

• Witnesses reported a convoy of tanks and heavy weapons moving from Adigrat toward Fatsi and Zalambessa on October 12-13, according to ACLED.
• Federal and allied forces took control of Fatsi, Zalambessa and entered Aksum, while Eritrean units reportedly withdrew through Zalambessa.
• Ethiopia and Eritrea have traded accusations at the UN Security Council, as UN chief Guterres urges a ceasefire and a return to Pretoria Agreement talks.