Ethiopia’s government forces announced that they had seized Mekelle, the capital of the Tigray region, from Tigray fighters after a week of intense battles.
The claim comes from officials in the Ethiopian military, who say that the city is now under government control. No independent verification of the takeover has yet been reported.
Mekelle is the administrative centre of the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, and its capture marks a significant change in the dynamics of the conflict that has raged in the area for several years.
According to the government statement, Tigray fighters have withdrawn from the city following the clashes. The Ethiopian military said the operation was carried out with the aim of restoring stability to the region.
The announcement follows a week of heavy fighting in and around Mekelle, during which both sides reported casualties and damage to infrastructure. The government’s claim of control is the latest development in a series of territorial gains by Ethiopian forces in the north.
<small>Source: Al Jazeera — read the original story there.</small>
