Ethiopian forces recapture Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle

Recapture of airport

Troops from the Ethiopian National Defence Forces retook Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, according to three sources.

Ethiopian federal forces recaptured the airport, and an Ethiopian general confirmed the military was in full control of the facility.

Airport location and prior seizure

The airport is located about 10 kilometres from Mekelle centre and was one of three airports seized by opposition forces on 23 September.

Flight suspensions

Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire after the airport was seized.

International and diplomatic response

The U.S. State Department urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to exercise maximum restraint, and the African Union called for restraint amid the renewed tensions.

Ethiopia ordered ten Eritrean diplomats to leave and closed its embassy in Eritrea, while Addis Ababa also severed diplomatic ties with Eritrea this week.