Politics

Ethiopian government forces retake control of Mekelle airport in Tigray

Ethiopian government forces have retaken the main airport in Mekelle, the capital of the northern Tigray region, according to three sources cited by Reuters on Saturday. The development is a major setback for the opposition alliance in one of its key strongholds. Al Jazeera reported that forces allied with the federal government have also entered the city, and that Washington has urged Ethiopia and Eritrea to engage in dialogue.

سكاي نيوز عربيةSunday, October 4, 2026, 01:51Covered by 2 sources

Illustrative photo: Empty airport runway at dusk under a dark, moody sky. Photo by Niklas Jonasson on Unsplash

Why it matters

The development revives concerns about wider instability in the Horn of Africa, a region on the Red Sea closely tied to shipping and trade security for the Arab world. Washington's call for dialogue between Ethiopia and Eritrea points to international concern over a deepening confrontation.

Background

Mekelle is the capital of the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, and its main airport serves the region. Ethiopia is a federal state with regional administrations, and Eritrea lies to its north.

Key points

According to Al Jazeera, the forces entered Mekelle after the city had been vacated by those it described as "Tigray rebels".

How outlets covered it

The two outlets agree on the core development: Mekelle airport is back under the control of forces backing the government. Sky News Arabia attributed the report to three sources who spoke to Reuters, called the forces government troops, and stressed that the development is a major setback for the opposition alliance. Al Jazeera described the forces as allied to the federal government, said they entered the capital after it was vacated by "Tigray rebels", and highlighted in its headline a US call for dialogue between Ethiopia and Eritrea. The Sky News Arabia text provided does not mention the forces entering the city.