Rockets have been fired at airports in a state neighboring Tigray, in Ethiopia. The airports were attacked by forces in the Tigray region as their conflict with the country’s federal government escalates. The BBC reports that a rocket struck the airport in Gondar, partially damaging it, while another landed just outside of the airport in Bahir Dar. Both airports are used by military and civilian aircraft, but details on casualties were not immediately clear.

Forces from Amhara have been fighting, on the side of the federal government against Tigray fighters. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front said the rocket attacks were retaliation for recent air strikes conducted by Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy’s forces.

According to the BBC, the TPLF has warned of further strikes, with spokesperson, Getachew Reda, saying, “As long as the attacks on the people of Tigray do not stop, the attacks will intensify.” He said Asmara, in Eritrea, could be targeted too.

There have been military clashes between Ethiopia’s government and the TPLF in recent days in which hundreds have lost their lives, and thousands have been displaced. At least 17 000 people have fled to Sudan.

Further, the BBC reports that a civilian massacre had taken place in Tigray this week. Amnesty International said it had confirmed that “scores, and likely hundreds, of people were stabbed or hacked to death” in the town of Mai-Kadra on November 9. The rights group said the victims appeared to be laborers. While Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has accused forces loyal to Tigray’s leaders of carrying out the mass killings, the TPLF has denied involvement. Ethiopia’s human rights commission is to investigate the massacre.

Umm Muhammed Umar