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Timeline of the Tigray war (July 2021–November 2022)

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Tigray War

Timeline of events

Template:Campaignbox Tigray war

This Timeline of the Tigray War (July 2021 to present) is part of a chronology of the military engagements of the Tigray War, a civil war that began in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia in early November 2020.

Timeline

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Beginning through June 2020

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Main articles: Timeline of the Tigray War (Beginning to December 2020) and Timeline of the Tigray War (January–June 2021)

July 2021

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1 July

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A bridge across the Tekezé River was partly destroyed.[1]

2 July

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Around 7000 captured Ethiopian soldiers passed through Mekelle, on the way to a prison north of the city.[2]

6 July

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The Tigrayan government began mobilization to retake western Tigray from Amhara militias.[3]

10 July

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Fiyelwiha battle. A large group of Amhara militia from Wereta and the surrounding Fogera district had been occupying the Dima district in Tigray. On 10 July, they were defeated by the Tigray Defence Forces (TDF); several Wereta militiamen, including the head of the Peace and Security Bureau of the Fogera woreda were killed on the battlefield in Fiyelwiha, a small town of the Dima district.[4]

11 July

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Following defeats of the ENDF and Amhara Special Forces in the Tigray War, the Fano (militia) took revenge on Tigrayan citizens in towns in Amhara region, killing people and looting shops, for instance in Wereta, where three Tigrayans were killed.[5] In retaliation for the lost battle in Fiyelwiha the previous day, the Amhara Fano (militia) and mob murdered three civilians of Tigrayan origin in Wereta on 11 July 2021.[4] Social media displayed imagery of the corpses been drag behind three wheel motorcycles, called “bajaj”.

12–13 July

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The TDF offensive started on 12 July 2021 resulted in Tigrayan forces capturing southern Tigray, including the towns of Alamata and Korem.[6] The TDF subsequently crossed the Tekezé River and advanced westward, capturing the town of Mai Tsebri and prompting Amhara officials to call on its militias to arm themselves and mobilize.[7]

17 July

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The TDF says it released about 1,000 captured Ethiopian soldiers at the Amhara-Tigray border.[8]

19 July

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A 10 vehicle convoy of the World Food Programme was attacked in the city of Semera in Afar region.[9]

20 July

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After controlling Kobo in the Amhara Region, the TDF did not harm the civilian population.[10]

Regional forces from Oromia, Sidama, Somalia, and the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples are mobilizing to support the ENDF in and around Tigray.[11]

The TDF launched an invasion on Afar Region making gains and repelling an allied counterattack on the TDF lines reportedly capturing vehicles and equipment.[12][13]

22 July

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The Afar regional government claims that 20 civilians were killed and 70,000 civilians displaced in clashes between the TDF and an alliance of ENDF and regional forces in Afar.[14]

September 2021

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late August/early September

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According to an Amnesty International report released on 16 February 2022, in late August and early September 2021, TPLF fighters "deliberately killed dozens of people, gang-raped dozens of women and girls — some as young as 14 — and looted private and public property in two areas of northern Ethiopia's Amhara region."[15]

31 August–4 September

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Main article: Chenna massacre

Between 31 August and 4 September, TDF occupied the village of Chenna and adjacent areas in Dabat district. According to residents, TDF soldiers arrived demanding food, then killed those who resisted when fighters slaughtered their animals and looted their properties.[16] The soldiers also shot at nearby Ethiopian troops from residential positions, drawing return fire on the residents.[17][18] Government officials reported that the TDF massacred 120-200 civilians in all.[19][20] Doctors at the hospital in nearby Dabat town put the death toll at 125 and counting.[21] Human Rights Watch spoke to residents who witnessed 26 civilians summarily executed by the TDF in Chenna.[17] The TDF denied the massacre.[22] At least 30 women and girls were raped and sexually assaulted by TDF soldiers in and around Chenna during the occupation.[23]

9 September

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Main article: Kobo massacre

Residents told VOA News by telephone that the TDF killed 600 civilians in Kobo district.[24] According to residents, on 9 September TDF fighters entered villages in Kobo searching for weapons but farmers repelled the soldiers from the villages. As TDF fighters withdrew from those villages to the town of Kobo, they killed men and teenage boys who were working their fields in retaliation along the way.[16][17] Later that day, residents witnessed dozens of civilians summarily executed by TDF fighters in the town of Kobo.[17][23] Spatiotemporal satellite imagery analysis corroborated witness testimony of new graves dug at two church compounds in the town to bury those summarily executed.[23]

15 September

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On 15 September, the Ethiopian Walta TV interviewed groups of light-armed militiamen in the Zobel hills at the east of Kobo, threatening the vital north–south road across the central Ethiopian highlands.[25]

23 September

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It was reported that at least 150 people had starved to death in Tigray territories in the month of August, and that at least 400,000 people had reached famine conditions.[26]

27 September

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The BBC reported that aid trucks were unable to transport crucial supplies to Tigray, as hundreds of trucks that made the journey from other parts of Ethiopia between July and September did not return, due to lack of fuel and hassling of drivers. The United Nations aid chief, Martin Griffiths assumed that famine has taken hold in Tigray, where a nearly three-month long "de-facto blockade" restricted aid deliveries to 10% of what is needed in the war-torn region.[27]

30 September

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Amid UN concerns about a blockade of aid deliveries to Tigray, the Ethiopian government expelled 7 top UN officials, reportedly because of "meddling" in its internal affairs, giving the officials 72 hours to leave the country.[28][29]

October 2021

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Early October

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Main article: 2021 Tigray offensive

An intensive air campaign began against TDF positions in North Wollo by the Ethiopian Air Force.[30]

18 October

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Main article: 2021 Mekelle air strikes

The Ethiopian Air Force killed three civilians in Mekelle.[31] That day, Tigray forces reported airstrikes in Mekelle, which were first denied, later admitted by the Ethiopian government.[32]

20 October

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Main article: 2021 Mekelle air strikes

The Ethiopian Air Force carried out a second series of airstrikes targeting inhabited areas of Mekelle city,[33] and also on the small town of Agbe.[34] A large enterprise, Mesfin Industrial Engineering, was also targeted, and one of its engineers got killed.

21 and 22 October

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Main article: 2021 Mekelle air strikes

Airstrikes continued on 21 and 22 October; the latter was nearby Mekelle University main campus, and Mekelle Airport and coincided with the landing time of a UN humanitarian flight. As a consequence, the UN cancelled further humanitarian flights to Mekelle.[35]

29 October

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See also: TDF–OLA joint offensive

The TDF captured the town of Dessie with the Ethiopian government denying the claim.[36]

30 October

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The TDF said they captured the town of Kombolcha and the OLA claimed to have captured the city of Kamisee from ENDF allied forces. The Ethiopian government denied the towns were captured.[37]

November 2021

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Main article: TDF–OLA joint offensive

1 November

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OLA and TDF forces said they officially met up.[38]

2 November

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As the counter-offensive came deeper into federally-controlled territory, the Ethiopian government declared a six-month state of emergency.[39]

4 November

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During an interview with Radio France Internationale, French historian and Horn of Africa expert Gérard Prunier explained that the bulk of the Eritrean army in Tigray is defending the border with Sudan (to prevent Tigrayan rebels from being supplied by Egypt, which is hostile to Abiy Ahmed's government) and to protect Eritrea's border with Tigray, thus leaving the defense of Addis Ababa mostly to Amhara militias in the face of heavy losses sustained by Ethiopia's federal army.[40]

10 November

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Amnesty International accuses Tigrayan rebel fighters of gang raping women in Ethiopia [41]

11 November

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In view of rebels advancing on the capital city, fears are expressed for the safety of the Mugher plant (operated by Dangote Cement), located at 90 km northwest of Addis Ababa.[42]

23 November

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The Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said he campaigned to lead his army into battleground.[43]

28 November

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The Ethiopian state television announced that the Ethiopian troops take control of Chifra, a district located in Afar Region.[44]

December 2021

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1 December

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The Ethiopian government said they recaptured Shewa Robit 220 km (135 miles) far from Addis Ababa. It was occupied by Tigray forces earlier.[45] According to the Minister of Ethiopian Government Communications Legese Tulu, they also retook nearby towns like Debre Sina, Wegeltena, Mezezo, Mollale. They retook Lalibela, as well.[46]

5 December

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The Ethiopian government claimed that they recaptured Dessie and Kombolcha.[47]

12 December

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Reuters reported that forces loyal to the TPLF had recaptured the town of Lalibela less than two weeks after government forces and their allies had recaptured control of the town for themselves.[48]

18 December

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Legesse Tulu, head of Government Communication Service, announced that government forces have taken control of several towns from TPLF, including: Weldiya, Kobo, Lalibela, Hara, Robit, Sanqa, Sirinka, Hamusit, Estaysh, Ahun Tegen, Dilb, and Kul Mesk.[49][50]

19 December

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Ethiopian Government, announced that deputy prime minister Demeke Mekonnen visited Lalibela following its recapture.[51]

20 December

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Getachew Reda, spokesman of the TPLF, announced they were withdrawing from several areas of northern Ethiopia in order to "open the door to humanitarian aid." This retreat had not been not confirmed.[52]

23 December

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On 23 December, the Ethiopian government announced that its military forces would temporarily halt any excursions into Tigray.[53]

24 December

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Ethiopian forces purportedly massacred an unknown number of people in the town of Abala. Soldiers went door to door killing ethnic Tigrayans but spared non-Tigrayan civilians.[54]

January 2022

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7 January

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Ethiopia announced pardons for high-profile political prisoners. Its government said it will release several leading TPLF members and opposition leaders from the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups.[55]

Aid workers say an airstrike at an IDP camp in Dedebit, northwest Tigray, killed 56 people.[56][57]

10 January

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According to aid workers and hospital officials, 17 people working at a flour mill, were killed in drone strikes in the town of Mai Tsebri. It was reported the strikes injured dozens of people and killed 16 donkeys.[58]

11 January

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According to an official and a doctor at Mekele's main hospital, 2 people were killed and dozens injured in a drone strike in Hiwane.[58]

February 2022

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3 February

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Militants reportedly belonging to the TPLF attacked an Eritrean refugee camp in Berhale, killing at least five people.[59] Thousands were displaced and several women were abducted.[60]

March 2022

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24 March

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TPLF and Ethiopian forces agreed to make a ceasefire in order to allow humanitarian aid into Tigray.[61][62]

May 2022

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20 May

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The TPLF says it will release 4,028 government soldiers it captured as part of a series of ongoing negotiations.[63]

August 2022

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August 26

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Ethiopian government forces conducted an air raid in Mekelle which struck a kindergarten and surrounding houses, leaving four dead - two of them children. Witnesses reported an explosion followed by anti-aircraft gunfire. The Ethiopian government denied hitting the kindergarten; instead claiming they were targeting military sites, although it wasn’t immediately clear if there were any in the area, and alleged that the TPLF had actually staged the dead bodies. Both Federal Government spokesman Tulu and Military spokesman Adane refused to respond to inquiries about the attack.[64]

References

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  1. ^ "Bridge on Tekeze River in Ethiopia's Tigray destroyed - aid group". Reuters. 1 July 2021. Retrieved 1 July 2021.
  2. ^ "After Sudden Defeat, Captured Ethiopian Soldiers Are Marched to Prison". New York Times. 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
  3. ^ Burke, Jason (6 July 2021). "Tigray forces mobilise against militias from neighbouring province". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  4. ^ a b The Reporter, 17 July 2021: EHRC calls for civilian protection
  5. ^ "Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 185 – 12 July 2021" (PDF). Retrieved 12 October 2021.
  6. ^ "Rebel forces in Ethiopia's Tigray region launch new offensive". France 24. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  7. ^ Mersie, Ayenat; Fick, Maggie (13 July 2021). "Ethiopia: Tigray forces push south as Amhara militias mobilise". Reuters. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Ethiopia's Tigray forces say they freed 1,000 captured soldiers". Reuters. 17 July 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2021.
  9. ^ "Food aid convoy headed for Ethiopia's Tigray attacked: UN". Yahoo!New. 19 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  10. ^ RFI, 23 August: Éthiopie: à Dessie, des réfugiés amharas loin de leur famille
  11. ^ "Ethiopia: Fear Tigray conflict could trigger all-out war". DW. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Ethiopia's Tigray forces enter neighboring Afar region, Afar says". CNN. 20 July 2021. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Ethiopia Map".
  14. ^ "Heavy fighting kills 20 in region bordering Tigray: official". Yahoo!New. 22 July 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
  15. ^ Feleke, Bethlehem (16 February 2022). "Amnesty International accuses Tigrayan rebel fighters of gang-raping children in Ethiopia". CNN. p. 1. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  16. ^ a b "'Then the killing started': Witnesses accuse Tigray fighters". Associated Press. 25 September 2021. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021.
  17. ^ a b c d "Ethiopia: Tigray Forces Summarily Execute Civilians". Human Rights Watch. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  18. ^ "Afar and Amhara Regions: Report on Violations of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in Afar and Amhara Regions of Ethiopia Published". Ethiopian Human Rights Commission - EHRC. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  19. ^ "Tigray forces killed 120 civilians in village in Amhara - Ethiopia officials". Reuters. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  20. ^ "Stench of death: villagers flee site of Ethiopia mass killings". France 24. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  21. ^ Corey-Boulet, Robbie (8 September 2021). "Tigray rebels massacre 125 villagers in Ethiopia's Amhara: doctors". Agence France-Presse. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021 – via Yahoo! News.
  22. ^ "Tigray External Affairs Office (TEAO) on Twitter: "Statement on Alleged Mass Killings in #Amhara Region. September 8, 2021.… "". 9 September 2021. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  23. ^ a b c "Ethiopia: Summary killings, rape and looting by Tigrayan forces in Amhara". Amnesty International. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
  24. ^ "ቆቦ ውስጥ ስድስት መቶ ሰው እንደተገደለ ነዋሪዎች ተናገሩ" [Residents say 600 people have been killed in Kobo]. Voice of America (in Amharic). 20 September 2021.
  25. ^ "በራያ ቆቦ የወጣቶችና ሚሊሻዎች ተጋድሎ" [Fighting between youth and militias in Raya Kobo] (in Amharic). Walta TV. 15 September 2021 – via YouTube.
  26. ^ "'Silent killing': Starvation stalks Ethiopia's Tigray". France24.com. 23 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Ethiopia's Tigray crisis: Why are hundreds of aid trucks stranded?". BBC News. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  28. ^ "Ethiopia expels top UN officials amid Tigray aid crisis". BBC News. 30 September 2021.
  29. ^ "Ethiopia orders expulsion of 7 top UN officials for 'meddling'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  30. ^ "Ethiopian troops intensify strikes against Tigray forces: Reports". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Tigray: Ethiopian government admits Mekelle airstrike". BBC. 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  32. ^ Aboudouh, Ahmed (18 October 2021). "Tigray forces say air strikes hit Ethiopia's Mekelle, government denies". Reuters. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
  33. ^ The New Arab, 20 October: Ethiopia's Tigray region capital Mekelle hit by airstrike for second time in week
  34. ^ "Ethiopia conducts two air strikes on Tigray within hours, war escalates". Reuters. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 20 October 2021.
  35. ^ AFP, 22 October 2021: [UN cancels Tigray flights after Ethiopia government airstrike https://news.yahoo.com/ethiopia-air-strikes-hit-tigray-102335411.html]
  36. ^ "Ethiopia's strategic town of Dessie 'captured' by rebel forces". Al Jazeera. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  37. ^ "Tigrayan and Oromo forces say they have seized towns on Ethiopian highway". Reuters. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  38. ^ "Ethiopia government says Tigray forces killed 100 youths in key town". Reuters. 1 November 2021. Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  39. ^ "Ethiopia declares nationwide state of emergency". Aljazeera. 2 November 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  40. ^ "Gérard Prunier: en Éthiopie, "il faut multilatéraliser le changement de régime"" [Gérard Prunier: in Ethiopia, "regime change must be multilateralized"] (in French). Radio France Internationale. 4 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  41. ^ "Amnesty International accuses Tigrayan rebel fighters of gang raping women in Ethiopia". CNN. 10 November 2021.
  42. ^ Moneycentral, 10 November 2021: Dangote Cement's $500m Ethiopia Plant at Risk as War Escalates
  43. ^ "Ethiopia's PM Abiy Ahmed vows to lead army 'from the battlefront'". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
  44. ^ "Ethiopian gov't forces in control of Chifra: State media". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  45. ^ "Ethiopian gov't says it retook string of towns from Tigray forces". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  46. ^ "Ethiopia liberates many towns from 'terrorists' – New Business Ethiopia". Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  47. ^ "Ethiopia Govt Claims Recapture Of Key Towns Dessie, Kombolcha". Agence-France Presse. 6 December 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2021 – via Barron's.
  48. ^ "Witnesses say Tigrayan forces in Ethiopia retook Lalibela, UN Heritage site". Reuters. 12 December 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
  49. ^ "Ethiopian forces liberate Woldia, Kobo from TPLF – New Business Ethiopia". 18 December 2021.
  50. ^ "Ethiopian government forces retake Woldia". Ethiopia Observer. 18 December 2021.
  51. ^ Bekit, Teklemariam (21 December 2021). "Ethiopia war: World heritage site Lalibela back in government hands". BBC Tigrinya – via Yahoo! News.
  52. ^ Kannampilly, Ammu (20 December 2021). "TPLF rebels announce retreat towards Ethiopia's Tigray". Agence France-Presse. Retrieved 20 December 2021 – via Yahoo! News.
  53. ^ "Ethiopia government says military won't cross into Tigray for now". Reuters. 24 December 2021.
  54. ^ Kassa, Lucy. "'Ethnic cleansing': Ethiopian allies accused of Abala massacre". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  55. ^ "Ethiopia announces pardons for high-profile political prisoners". www.aljazeera.com. 7 January 2022.
  56. ^ "Ethiopia's Tigray conflict: Dozens killed in airstrike at camp, say aid staff". BBC News. 8 January 2022.
  57. ^ "Aid workers say Ethiopia air strike in northwest Tigray killed 56 people". Reuters. 8 January 2022.
  58. ^ a b "Drone strikes kill 19 in Ethiopia's Tigray: aid workers, doctor". The Guardian Nigeria News. Agence France-Presse. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  59. ^ "Protection in Danger Monthly News Brief February 2022 - World". ReliefWeb. 24 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  60. ^ "Attack on Ethiopia refugee camp kills five, displaces thousands: UN". France 24. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  61. ^ "Tigray rebels observe government truce, paving way for urgent aid". RFI. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  62. ^ "Tigray rebels agree to 'cessation of hostilities'". France 24. 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.
  63. ^ "Ethiopia's Tigray forces announce release of 4,000 army POWs". AP NEWS. 20 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
  64. ^ "Ethiopia forces accused of deadly attack as Tigray war escalates". aljazeera. 26 August 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2022.
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