Ethiopian government forces oust rebels from Mekele airport

In Ethiopia, government troops drove rebels out of Alula Aba Nega International Airport. The Associated Press reports this.

This strategic facility is located in the city of Mekele, the capital of the Tigray region. Local rebels from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) have held the airport since September 23, causing a complete halt to civilian flights in the region.

“The military is in complete control of the airport. I can confirm this,” said one of the Ethiopian generals on condition of anonymity.

It is noted that the sources who provided the information refused to give their names for security reasons and because of general uncertainty about who exactly controls the city now. Severe disruptions to the internet and mobile communications are also making it very difficult to collect and verify information from Tigray.

In turn, neither the Ethiopian government nor the TPLF have made official statements regarding the capture of Alul Aba Nega at this time.