Ethiopia tells UN it is acting in self-defence as troops regain border city after Eritrean incursion

From the Newshound archive · first published 11 October 2026.

Ethiopian forces have regained control of a border city after a reported Eritrean military incursion, with Addis Ababa formally telling the UN it is acting in self-defence. Both nations have now cut diplomatic ties, closed embassies and severed communication lines, leaving virtually no mechanism for de-escalation. Eritrea is accused of backing the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front, part of a seven-group alliance seeking to overthrow the Ethiopian government.

Underlying the crisis are landlocked Ethiopia's ambitions to secure Red Sea access and allegations that Eritrea has been arming rebel forces in northern Ethiopia.