Overview
- Government troops and allied militias moved into Mek'ele after Saturday's advance and were reported patrolling key sites including the airport by local journalists and humanitarian sources.
- TPLF fighters and leaders largely left the city and their commander Debretsion Gebremichael announced a switch to guerrilla tactics, saying the group will strike where it chooses.
- Widespread telecommunications outages in Tigray have made independent verification difficult and delayed clear reporting on security, law enforcement and the condition of public services.
- Residents said government buildings and police stations were left unguarded, raising immediate fears of looting and lawlessness that could worsen civilian hardship and displacement.
- The episode deepens long-running tensions that followed the 2020–22 war and the incomplete Pretoria deal, and it has already produced diplomatic fallout such as Eritrea breaking relations with Ethiopia and reciprocal expulsions.