Tigray rebels withdraw from Mekele; Ethiopian army takes regional capital

Ethiopian federal forces have recaptured Mekelle, the Tigray regional capital, following renewed fighting that began in late September, marking a significant reversal in the conflict. This development, confirmed by multiple sources, indicates a collapse of TPLF territorial control in Mekelle, though the TPLF's broader response and the conflict's strategic implications remain uncertain. Airstrikes and artillery attacks have continued in the Tigray region, raising fears of a prolonged civil war and regional instability.