Tigrayan forces captured the airports of Mekelle, Shire, and Axum on September 23, sparking a military offensive against the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) voided its 2022 peace accord with the federal government and formed an alliance with six other armed groups to overthrow the current administration. Fighting has expanded into the Afar region, where a new group called ANURF seized control of the town of Abala.

U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin Massinga described the offensive as an unwinnable fight and a poor decision, warning that Washington may use sanctions against additional leaders. Ethiopian Airlines has suspended flights to the targeted northern cities, and analyst Alan Boswell stated that the peace framework between the parties has completely broken down.