Ethiopia signals escalation in war with plan to seize airports

Bloomberg

Ethiopia said it plans to seize airports and other federal facilities in the northern Tigray region, signaling fighting will intensify after the US and African Union appealed for a cease-fire.
The Ethiopian authorities also warned civilians and humanitarian groups to stay away from military assets controlled by the dissident Tigray People’s Liberation Front, according to a statement posted on the Government Communication Service’s Twitter account on Monday. The measures are necessary because of repeated attacks by the TPLF and its “active collusion” with unidentified foreign powers, it said.
“It is thus imperative that the government of Ethiopia assumes immediate control of all airports, other federal facilities and installations in the region,” the government said. “This is necessary to protect Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
The conflict in Tigray has escalated since the resumption of hostilities in August ended a five-month humanitarian cease-fire. The war has pitted Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal forces against rebels loyal to the TPLF. Neighboring Eritrea has backed Abiy since the violence first erupted in November 2020, while the fighting has also spilled over into Sudan, where thousands of refugees have fled the fighting.