Ethiopian federal forces have retaken the airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, according to residents and a military official who spoke to the Associated Press.
The reported takeover reverses the seizure of Alula Aba Nega Airport by Tigrayan fighters on September 23.
However, uncertainty remains over the wider situation in Mekelle. Neither the Ethiopian government nor the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had officially confirmed the change of control at the airport.
Federal forces reportedly control Mekelle airport
People in Mekelle told AP that federal forces had taken control of the airport. They spoke anonymously because of concerns about possible reprisals.
An Ethiopian general, also speaking anonymously, told AP that the military was in “full control of the airport”.
It remains unclear when the airport changed hands or whether fighting took place during the takeover.
Internet and mobile phone disruptions have also made independent verification of developments in Tigray difficult.
The situation elsewhere in Mekelle remains uncertain. An AP contributor in the city reported concerns among residents about possible looting.
Flights suspended after September takeover
TPLF fighters seized Mekelle airport on September 23.
The takeover prompted Ethiopian Airlines to suspend commercial flights to Mekelle, Axum and Shire.
The latest developments come amid renewed fighting between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters.
The African Union has called for restraint, warning that escalating tensions could threaten the Pretoria Peace Agreement that ended the previous war in 2022.
Fears grow over renewed Tigray conflict
Tensions in Tigray began rising again in late 2025 after several years of an uneasy peace.
According to AP, the federal government has since carried out drone strikes in Tigray and deployed troops near the regional border.
Rights groups have also accused the TPLF of forced recruitment as tensions have escalated.
Ethiopian authorities, meanwhile, have accused the TPLF of cooperating with neighbouring Eritrea and other armed groups. The TPLF’s response to those specific allegations was not included in the supplied report.
The region continues to face the consequences of the previous war. Around one million people remain displaced, while parts of the 2022 peace agreement have yet to be fully implemented.
With control of Mekelle itself still unclear and communications disrupted, the full situation on the ground remains difficult to independently establish.