The Tigray People's Liberation Front seized control of airports in Mekelle, Shire and Axum to launch offensive operations into the Amhara and Afar regions. Tigrayan forces have declared a state of "full-blown war" with the federal government following the collapse of a 2022 peace agreement and the formation of a rebel alliance to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to the affected northern hubs as fighting spreads across regional borders.

The Ethiopian military killed more than 270 Tigrayan fighters and wounded 260 others during a counter-offensive in the Amhara region. In Tigray, young men are fleeing the province to avoid coercive recruitment by regional authorities, according to rights groups. The U.S. State Department issued a "Do Not Travel" warning for the region, while network data indicates a subnational internet disruption is currently affecting Tigray.