War in Ethiopia: Drone Strikes Target Addis Ababa as Eritrea Severs Diplomatic Ties

Drone strikes targeted the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, as part of the conflict continuing in the north of the country, where Ethiopian government forces also claim to be advancing on the ground.

These strikes follow bombardments that occurred Wednesday evening on the capital. In response, the Ethiopian government announced the closure of its embassy in Asmara, the capital of neighboring Eritrea. Eritrea responded by severing all of its diplomatic ties with Ethiopia, marking a further deterioration in relations between the two countries.

A Regional Escalation

Relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea, marked by decades of tension and periods of rapprochement, have deteriorated once again amid the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia. The severing of diplomatic relations between the two countries is a strong signal of the worsening situation, and could further complicate regional mediation efforts.

On the military front, Ethiopian government forces claim advances in the north of the country, though the exact extent of these territorial gains could not be independently verified. The drone strikes on the capital also mark a geographic expansion of the conflict toward areas that had until now been relatively spared from direct fighting.

The international community is closely monitoring developments, against a regional backdrop already marked by several humanitarian and security crises in East Africa.