Ethiopian Government Troops and Tigrayan Forces Clash in Northern Tigray. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — January 29, 2026 Lead Paragraph: Clashes have erupted in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region, with Ethiopian federal government troops engaging with Tigrayan forces.
The region, still reeling from a devastating war and recent cuts in international aid, is facing renewed hostilities.
Security and diplomatic sources informed the AFP news agency that the fighting has led to the suspension of flights in the area.
The conflict appears to have intensified in recent days, particularly in Tsemlet, a western Tigray area claimed by forces from the neighboring Amhara region.
A security source described the situation as “deteriorating “on condition of anonymity.
The roots of the conflict trace back to 2020 when the Ethiopian government launched a military offensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), following a power struggle within the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
The war in Tigray resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of displacements before it ended in 2022. Al Jazeera has reported from Hitsats in Tigray, a village sustained primarily by humanitarian organizations, including the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which was once Ethiopia’s largest source of humanitarian aid.
However, funding for USAID was significantly cut under the Trump administration, leading to a reduction in overall humanitarian funding available for Tigray. Humanitarian organizations, including the World Food Programme (WFP), estimate that up to 80 percent of the Tigrayan population requires emergency support.
The reduction in aid has placed additional strain on the region’s already fragile public health system, according to Joshua Eckley, head of mission at Doctors without Borders for Ethiopia.
The recent escalation in the conflict raises concerns about the humanitarian situation in Tigray and its neighboring regions.
The situation remains fluid, with further details expected as the situation develops. Officials have not yet commented on the specifics of the latest clashes or their potential impact on the region.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
