Drone Strikes in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region Claim One Life, Spark Renewed Conflict Concerns. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — January 31, 2026 — One person has been killed and another injured in drone strikes in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region, according to a senior Tigrayan official and a humanitarian worker, signaling a possible escalation of conflict between regional and federal forces.
The strikes occurred on two Isuzu trucks near Enticho and Gendebta, locations approximately 20 kilometers apart in the Tigray region.
The Ethiopian National Defence Force is said to have launched the attacks, although no evidence has been provided to support this claim.
A local humanitarian worker confirmed the strikes took place, but both sources requested anonymity.
The trucks’ contents remain unclear.
The TPLF — affiliated news outlet Dimtsi Weyane posted images on Facebook showing the trucks damaged in the strikes, stating they were transporting food and cooking items.
However, pro — government activists on social media claimed the trucks were carrying weapons. Ethiopia’s conflict with the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has been ongoing since late 2020.
The war, which involved aerial attacks and ground combat, has been marked by significant violence and humanitarian crises, including food shortages and displacement of populations. Fighting broke out between regional and national forces in Tsemlet in the disputed territory of western Tigray earlier this week. Tensions have been rising over the presence of troops from the Amhara region and the neighboring country of Eritrea in Tigray, which violates a peace deal signed in November 2022.
The African Union’s chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and resolve outstanding issues through constructive dialogue. He emphasized the importance of preserving the gains achieved under the AU-led Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA).
The situation in Tigray remains volatile, with concerns about the potential for renewed conflict and the impact on the civilian population.
Further details are expected as the situation develops.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 2*
