Tigray rebels claim heavy army losses
The Tigray People's Liberation Front said it killed 500 soldiers and wounded 800 more in clashes near Aksum.
Ethiopia's Tigray rebels claimed on Monday to have killed 500 soldiers and wounded 800 others in clashes with government forces and allied militias. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) said the fighting occurred on Saturday near Aksum, a historic town in the northern region.
According to TPLF-affiliated Dimtsi Weyane television, the rebels also captured territory and seized weapons, ammunition, food, and medical supplies. The group accused federal forces of using artillery and drones, and reported disruptions to telephone and internet services in the area. Ethiopia's government has not commented on the casualty figures, which could not be independently verified.
These clashes follow weeks of escalating fighting in northern Ethiopia. Government troops had captured several towns, including Mekelle, the Tigray regional capital, in early October, but TPLF fighters have continued counterattacks.
Why it mattersFighting in the northern region of Ethiopia has resulted in claimed heavy casualties for the army and disruption of services.