Ethiopian federal forces and allied pro-government militias have regained control of Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, marking a significant reversal in the renewed conflict that erupted last month.

Sources confirmed that fighters from the Tigray Peace Forces entered the city center on Saturday afternoon, followed closely by Ethiopian military units. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which leads an opposition alliance, announced its withdrawal from the capital late Saturday, stating that the regional government would operate temporarily from another location to minimize risks to civilians.

Residents and humanitarian workers reported that government-aligned forces now patrol key areas of Mekelle, with communications partially restored. The capture came after federal forces first secured the city's main airport earlier in the weekend.

The development represents a major setback for the TPLF and its allies, who launched a large offensive on September 23 aimed at challenging Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The group had seized strategic sites including airports in the region before federal counteroffensives pushed back the advances.

This latest fighting follows the collapse of the 2022 peace agreement that ended a devastating two-year war between federal forces and Tigrayan rebels. The TPLF's participation in a broader opposition coalition seeking to oust Abiy has escalated tensions across northern Ethiopia and raised concerns about potential regional spillover involving neighboring countries.

Businesses in Mekelle remained largely closed amid the transition, with residents organizing local security measures in the absence of regular policing. The prime minister's office has not yet issued a formal statement on the operation.

Analysts view the retaking of Mekelle as a critical blow to the TPLF's political and military stronghold, potentially shifting momentum back toward the federal government in efforts to stabilize the north.