Three local sources say Tigrayan forces seized Mekelle airport; regional flights halted

Reuters said three independent local sources, including one security source, reported that Tigrayan forces took control of the main airport in the regional capital Mekelle from federal police early Wednesday. N Globe has not obtained confirmation of airport control from the federal government, the Tigray People's Liberation Front or an independent official body.

State-owned Ethiopian Airlines said on social media that flights to Mekelle, Shire and Axum had been halted because of the current situation in Tigray. The carrier gave no further detail, and Reuters said it could not immediately confirm conditions in Shire and Axum.

The escalation follows an announcement by the TPLF and six other armed organizations that they had formed an anti-government alliance. Relations between the federal government and Tigrayan authorities have deteriorated for months, with each side accusing the other of violating the Pretoria peace agreement signed in November 2022.

The 2020-2022 Tigray war killed hundreds of thousands through direct violence, famine and the collapse of healthcare. Analysts have not established whether the latest move will become a full-scale war. Regional air travel is confirmed disrupted; control of the airport is corroborated by multiple local sources but remains without official confirmation.

Verification status: multiple sources, no official confirmation of airport control; the flight suspension is confirmed by Ethiopian Airlines. News value: S. Origin region: Africa (Tigray, Ethiopia). Primary section: War/military and security. Related regions: Africa, Middle East, Europe and worldwide. Source time: September 23, 2026, 10:21 UTC. Report date: September 23, 2026. The image is an N Globe editorial illustration.