Tigray Government Says It Has Entered ‘Defensive War’ Against Federal Forces

September 23, 2026 — The Tigray regional government says its forces have entered what it calls a “defensive war” against Ethiopian federal troops following renewed air, drone, artillery and ground attacks.

In a statement issued Wednesday, the regional government accused Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration of launching a new offensive against Tigray. It said heavy bombardment on September 22 was followed by a ground assault and that Tigrayan forces had been instructed to respond militarily.

The statement described the federal government in strongly accusatory terms, including allegations of genocide and deliberate attacks on Tigray.

The escalation comes only days after the formal announcement of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, a seven-group coalition that includes the TPLF, Amhara Fano National Movement and Oromo Liberation Army, together with four other organizations. The alliance says its objective is to remove the Prosperity Party-led government and establish an inclusive transitional administration.

The development is particularly significant because some members of the new alliance fought on opposite sides during the 2020–2022 Tigray war. Fano forces fought alongside the federal government against the TPLF before later entering their own conflict with federal forces.

The Tigray government called on its forces, residents of Tigray and supporters abroad to remain united, while warning civilians to take precautions. It also cautioned against publishing unauthorized information about military movements and operations.

The renewed fighting, coming immediately after the formation of the Alliance for Survival, marks a potentially significant new phase in Ethiopia’s widening political and armed confrontation and raises further questions about the future of the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.