Addis Ababa, 25 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Heavy fighting has intensified in northern Ethiopia as federal forces battled Tigray rebels in the Afar region, while reports emerged of an internet and telecommunications blackout in Tigray, raising fears of a repeat of the humanitarian crisis during the 2020–2022 civil war. A humanitarian source said heavy clashes took place overnight around the town of Abala, where federal forces reportedly pushed back rebel fighters with the support of a military drone. Fighting was also reported in North Wollo Zone of Amhara, including areas near Lalibela, home to Ethiopia’s renowned rock-hewn churches. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has claimed that the conflict has again become a full-scale war with the federal government after rebels seized local airports and launched attacks into Afar and Amhara. Analysts said the TPLF may be seeking to disrupt key supply routes, including those connecting Ethiopia with Djibouti, which handles most of the country’s international trade cargo. The TPLF has also formed an alliance with six other armed groups in an effort to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. Meanwhile, residents in Tigray have reported panic buying and rising prices of basic goods amid fears that banking, telecommunications, electricity and supplies could again be disrupted. The renewed fighting follows an uneasy period of calm after the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement, which was never fully implemented, while around one million people remain displaced. The conflict has also raised concerns about possible involvement by neighbouring Eritrea and comes shortly after the United States lifted sanctions related to atrocities committed during the previous civil war.