Ethiopian federal forces and allied Tigray pro-government militias are closing in on Mekele, Tigray's capital, after turning back a TPLF-led offensive that began in late September.

Ethiopian federal forces and allied Tigray pro-government militias are closing in on Mekele, Tigray's capital, after turning back a TPLF-led offensive that began in late September.

Pro-government fighters claim to be within 20 km of the city, senior TPLF leaders have reportedly left, and the TPLF describes its withdrawals as tactical rather than withdrawal.

The fighting marks the collapse of the 2022 Pretoria peace accord that ended a war that is estimated to have killed 600,000.

The crisis has gone international.

Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties, and Ethiopia expelled an Egyptian diplomat, with each side accusing the other of backing the rebels.