Ethiopian army castaways may expand TPLF’s fight past Mekelle
Al JazeeraEthiopian government says it will launch a ‘final’ assault on Mekelle, but TPLF officials say even the fall of the city will not spell the end of their fight. The Ethiopian government’s war against the Tigray regional government in the country’s north is approaching a decisive moment, as a string of military advances have paved the way for an imminent “final” assault on the regional capital, Mekelle. But while the Ethiopian military has told residents of the encircled regional capital to “save themselves” in advance of an assault scheduled for Wednesday, warning that “anything can happen”, TPLF officials said that even the fall of Mekelle would not spell the end of their fight. The TPLF can either retreat to the mountains and start a guerilla campaign, surrender, or put up a last stand and lose.” Before the Ethiopian government’s expected assault on the TPLF’s stronghold on Wednesday, rights groups have called for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, warning that deliberate attacks against them “is prohibited under international humanitarian law and constitutes war crimes”.