Fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray region despite de-escalation calls

The conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region showed no signs of abating on Thursday despite international pressure on both sides to de-escalate.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sparked fears of civil war on Wednesday by announcing that he was sending soldiers into the region to quell an alleged uprising by a political party and rebel group called the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

A Thursday statement cited by the communication office of the regional government on Tigray Television claimed airstrikes had been carried out on the regional capital - an allegation that could not be independently verified.

"Some jets have bombed locations around the regional capital, Mekelle, today. We understand the purpose of the attack is to force the region into submission," the report said.

The central government could not immediately be reached for comment, and, due to an ongoing internet and phone blackout in the Tigray region, dpa was unable to contact sources on the ground.

Meanwhile, Tigray's regional president, Debretsion Gebremichael, told local television that "we are ready to be martyrs," adding that federal government troops in the area had defected.

"The Ethiopian army’s northern command has sided with the people of Tigray. We will repulse and win this war," he said.

However, Birhanu Jula, deputy chief of the Ethiopian army, told reporters in the capital exactly the opposite, alleging that TPLF forces were fleeing to join the government side.

"The army is carefully targeting TPLF force thereby trying to avoid civilian casualties," he added.