Ethiopian Troops Seize Zalambessa as Tensions With Eritrea Rise
Ethiopian government troops entered the border town of Zalambessa after forcing Tigrayan rebels to retreat, sparking a diplomatic clash with Eritrea at the UN Security Council.
Ethiopian government troops have advanced into Zalambessa, a northern Tigray border town of 15,000 people, following a counter-offensive that forced a rebel alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to retreat north.
The Ethiopian government has accused Eritrea of supporting the rebels and claiming that Eritrean troops advanced up to 60 km into Ethiopian territory. Eritrea denied these incursions, characterizing the accusations as a "declaration of war."
In response to the escalation, Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh petitioned the United Nations Security Council to implement deterrent measures against Ethiopia under Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The Security Council has scheduled a closed-door meeting for Tuesday to address the instability in the Horn of Africa.
