The Ethiopian army begins its “latest attack” on the capital of Tigray | Ethiopia

Prime Minister of Ethiopia Federal military forces ordered To launch a “final attack” on the capital of the restive Tigray region after the 72-hour deadline for local leaders opposed to surrender.

In a statement posted on social media, Abi Ahmed said that great care would be taken to protect innocent civilians from harm, and said that government forces would make efforts to ensure that the city of Mikeli, with a population of 500,000, “is not severely affected.”

“We call on the people of Mikeli and its surroundings to disarm, stay in their homes and stay away from military targets [and] To do their part in reducing the damage tolerable by a handful of criminal elements.

Earlier this week, military officials warned of “no mercy” if Mikkeli residents did not distance themselves from Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), The local ruling party.

Departition Gebremaikel, leader of the FLTL, said on Tuesday that his people were “ready to die” to defend their homeland.

Abe launched the military campaign against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front On November 4thIt accused it of attacking federal army camps in the northern region and seeking to destabilize the country.

The 44-year-old leader He won the Nobel Peace Prize Last year for a peace deal with neighboring Eritrea, he said that the TPLF orchestrated a “series of violent attacks” across Ethiopia “to thwart the process of democratic transition.”

Officials in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, described the attack on Tigray as a “law enforcement operation” aimed at removing “traitorous” rebel leaders and restoring central authority. The TPLF says it is defending its legitimate rights under the constitutional order in Ethiopia.

Hundreds, possibly thousands, have died in the conflict so far, and up to a million people have been displaced. There was at least one massacre, with atrocities committed against both sides.

The last-minute efforts by the African Union and the United Nations to defuse the crisis have failed. Dad refused on Wednesday International “intervention”.

The United Nations says the shortage has become “extremely critical” in the Tigray region, as fuel and funds run out. A report released overnight said the food for 100,000 Eritrean refugees would end within a week. More than 600,000 people depend on monthly food rations that they have not received this month.

The travel restrictions are so serious that even inside Mikkeli, the United Nations World Food Program cannot transport food from its warehouses there.

Communications and travel links with the Tigray region have remained severed since the outbreak of the conflict, and Human Rights Watch warns that “acts intentionally impeding relief supplies” violate international humanitarian law.

The United Nations has reported people fleeing Mikkeli, but with communications cut off, it is not clear how many residents know of the impending attack.

Head of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission He said on Thursday “Extreme caution to avoid harming civilians is of greater importance, now, at this stage of the conflict.”