Ethiopia: Eritrean Troops Reported Inside Tigray; UK Updates Its Advice

October 8, 2026 — Update to our October 7 story. No attack has been reported since the US Embassy’s warning on Wednesday, and we found no new flight disruption. But witnesses told Reuters they saw Eritrean soldiers inside Tigray on October 7, and the UK updated its Ethiopia travel advice the same day. The US advisory is unchanged at Level 3.

What changed

Eritrean troops: At least two witnesses told Reuters they saw dozens of Eritrean soldiers drive through Adigrat, about 25 km from the border, on October 7. It is the first such sighting since fighting resumed on September 23.
Mekelle: Federal forces took Tigray’s capital and its airport around October 5.
UK advice, October 7: The Foreign Office updated its conflict and violence section. It refers to reports of attacks, including possible drone attacks, on military installations, to increased security checks at Addis Ababa’s Bole airport, and to networks being shut without notice.
US advisory: Unchanged at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, dated August 27, 2026. Wednesday’s embassy alert did not change the level.
Flights: Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights to Mekelle, Shire and Axum on September 23. We found no report of them resuming (TBA) and no report of disruption at Addis Ababa.

What it means for travelers

Connecting through Addis Ababa remains possible. Allow extra time for security checks at Bole and keep in touch with your airline.
Do not plan trips to Tigray, Amhara or Afar. That rules out Aksum, Lalibela, Gondar and Bahir Dar for now.
Getting home: Avoid depending on a same-day domestic connection to reach your flight home.
Download boarding passes and bookings in advance. Phone and internet service can be cut.
Register with STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad.