Tigrayan rebels have transitioned to a state of "full-blown war" against the federal government of Ethiopia, coinciding with a surge of fighting in the north. A medic told the BBC that at least 52 civilians have died in the Tigray region as conflicts spread into the neighboring Afar and Amhara states. Federal forces have launched counter-offensives, claiming to have killed 272 TPLF fighters and wounded 260 others, while rebel groups have seized control of airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire.

The escalation marks the collapse of a 2022 peace agreement and the formation of the Alliance for Survival, a coalition including the TPLF, Fano, and the Oromo Liberation Army seeking to oust Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. While Ethiopia possesses a superior force of 503,000 active troops and 34 combat jets backed by UAE drone technology, the government is fighting multiple insurgencies. The conflict has triggered a subnational internet blackout in Tigray and raised concerns of regional war as the government accuses Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt of backing the rebellion.