Ethiopian forces unleash heavy shelling on Tigray capital as fighting enters final stage

Ethiopian government forces began an offensive to capture the regional capital Mekelle in the rebellious northern Tigray region on Saturday, said a diplomat in direct contact with residents, and the leader of Tigrayan forces.

Debretsion Gebremichael, leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said in a text message Mekelle was under “heavy bombardment”. The Ethiopian military is using artillery in the assault, he said.

The diplomat said explosions were reported in the north of the city, in the Hamidai area. A second diplomat also said the attack had begun.

Billene Seyoum, a spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office, said: “The Ethiopian National defence Forces do not have a mission to bombard its own city and people. Mekelle remains one of Ethiopia’s key cities and the efforts to bring to justice the criminal clique will not entail discriminatory ‘bombardment’ as alluded by TPLF and their propagandists.”

She added, “The safety of Ethiopians in Mekelle and Tigray region continues as priority for the federal government”.

Claims from all sides are difficult to verify since phone and internet links to the region have been down and access has been tightly controlled since fighting began three weeks ago between forces of the government and the TPLF.