Tigrayan forces affiliated with the Tigray People's Liberation Front seized control of the main airport in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region on Wednesday, according to multiple local and security sources. The takeover at Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle occurred overnight, with staff turned away upon arrival and federal police presence overtaken.

Ethiopian Airlines responded by suspending all flights to Mekelle, Axum, and Shire effective Wednesday due to the deteriorating security situation. Flight tracking data confirmed the cancellation of morning services between Mekelle and Addis Ababa.

The airport seizures form part of a broader offensive launched by TPLF forces early Wednesday against Ethiopian government positions in the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions. Getachew Reda, advisor to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, stated on social media that the TPLF had taken over federally controlled airports in Tigray and initiated an all-out offensive.

The Tigray regional administration announced that its forces had entered a defensive war in response to what it described as intensified aggression by the federal government. Reports indicated clashes in Afar locations including Abala and Erebti, with some sources claiming TPLF advances and federal retreats.

Tensions escalated further after the TPLF announced on Sunday an alliance with six other armed groups across Ethiopia aimed at challenging Abiy's government. This development follows months of disputes over the implementation of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement that ended the previous Tigray war, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.

The latest events mark a significant breakdown in the fragile post-war stability in northern Ethiopia. Federal officials have previously accused the TPLF of preparing for renewed conflict, while Tigray authorities have cited drone strikes and other pressures as provocations.

International observers and humanitarian groups expressed concern over the potential for wider displacement and renewed humanitarian needs in a region still recovering from the 2020-2022 conflict.