Ethiopian Federal Forces Recapture Mekelle Airport from Tigrayan Fighters

Ethiopian federal forces have recaptured Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region. The operation reverses a takeover by Tigrayan fighters that occurred on September 23. While residents and an anonymous Ethiopian general confirmed the recapture, neither the federal government nor the Tigray People’s Liberation Front has issued a formal statement.

Ethiopian federal forces regained control of the facility following a period of escalating tension that began in late 2025, marked by federal drone strikes and forced recruitment by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The September seizure of the airport had previously forced Ethiopian Airlines to suspend all commercial flights to Mekelle, Axum, and Shire.

Commercial aviation services remain suspended as authorities conduct security and infrastructure assessments. The African Union and the United States have called for restraint to prevent a return to full-scale conflict, emphasizing the need to uphold the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement.