Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) militia have infiltrated southern Eritrea border thru Mereb Lehe Wereda, according to local sources speaking on condition of anonymity. The situation is developing and the TPLF forces are said to have planned the raid as a pre-emptive strike to create a buffer zone from a potential Eritrean attack. 

Heavy TPLF troop movement was already witnessed last week near the Tigray town of Rama in a road that cuts north thru Eritrea’s Zoba Debub province which directly leads to Asmara. The Eritrean Defense Force (EDF) has so far displayed restraint and is not seeking to engage the Tigrayan rebels, according to an AG source. 

In November 2020, the Ethiopian army’s northern command was forced to seek refugee in Eritrea after TPLF forces began the ongoing conflict that has triggered widespread humanitarian crisis. 

It is unknown if the TPLF’s latest aggression against Eritrea is supported by TPLF leaders or by other factions falling under the TDF umbrella. Gen Tsadkan, a top military strategist, has long supported the concept of Tigray gaining access to the red sea by overthrowing the Eritrean government. 

However, the Tigrayans have also used various diversion tactics to create an outlet to Sudan by breaking through the West where Amhara forces have taken over since the end of 2020. Eritrean forces have also provided support to ENDF near the Humera border town as Tigrayan militia repeatedly attempted to re-enter from Sudan. After media reports of TPLF militia recruitments in Sudan, UNHCR officials recently admitted that many Tigrayan refugees in Sudanese camps have disappeared. 

This latest development of a new war front at the Eritrean border comes as TPLF rebels advanced into Kombolcha after they were defeated in their effort to capture Dessie town of Amhara region.