By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Mekelle, 4 October 2026 – Ethiopia's National Defence Forces (ENDF) have retaken Alula Aba Nega Airport in Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, according to multiple sources, dealing a major setback to the opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
Reuters reported, citing a source with knowledge of events in the city and a humanitarian source, that the airport is now under the control of government forces. A Mekelle resident, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said gunfire could be heard on the outskirts of the city centre, and that he had seen some Tigrayan fighters abandoning their positions while government facilities were being looted.
Before the reports were confirmed, the Tigray Peace Forces, a militia allied with the federal government, announced on social media on Friday night that it had taken full control of the airport and was carrying out operations inside the city.
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However, it remains unclear who controls Mekelle itself. A source close to the TPLF said the city had been surrounded by government troops and allied militias, while a journalist in Mekelle told AFP that TPLF fighters and leaders were leaving the city.
The airport, located about 10 km from the city centre, was one of three airports seized by opposition forces on 23 September, when the latest fighting broke out. That takeover led to the suspension of commercial flights in the region.
The conflict is the worst Ethiopia has seen since the 2020–2022 civil war. Reports say heavy fighting is also under way in the Amhara and Afar regions. The TPLF has joined six other opposition groups in an alliance seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.