Ethiopia has warned the UN Security Council that it has no choice but to defend itself against Eritrea, accusing its northern neighbor of invading its territory and deploying troops deep into the conflict-hit Tigray region.
The warning comes amid escalating tensions between the two countries and growing fears that the confrontation could trigger a wider regional conflict.
In a letter dated October 8, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos accused Eritrea of repeated military incursions into Ethiopian territory and called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces. He alleged that Asmara had intensified its military activities along the border, including deploying mechanized army units into Tigray, posing a direct threat to Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Timothewos warned that the continued presence of Eritrean troops on Ethiopian soil had left Addis Ababa with “no option but to defend itself against Eritrea.”
Ethiopia urged the Security Council to address the escalating confrontation, warning that Eritrea’s alleged military activities threatened regional peace and security.
Ethiopia and Eritrea have severed diplomatic ties, raising fears that countries across the Horn of Africa and the Gulf region could be drawn into the conflict as tensions between the two neighbors continue to escalate.
Eritrea has rejected Ethiopia’s accusations, describing them as a pretext for launching military action against its territory.
The warning comes amid renewed fighting in Tigray, where Ethiopian federal forces have been battling armed groups linked to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Reports from the region indicate that Ethiopian military drones struck vehicles allegedly carrying Eritrean soldiers near Adigrat on Thursday. However, the reported attacks and claims of casualties have not been independently verified.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought alongside each other during the 2020–2022 Tigray war, but relations have since deteriorated sharply, with both governments accusing each other of threatening regional stability.
Tensions have also intensified over Ethiopia’s pursuit of access to the Red Sea, particularly the Eritrean port of Assab, which Asmara maintains is part of its sovereign territory.
