Witnesses have reported seeing Eritrean soldiers driving through a northern town inside Ethiopia, according to Reuters, raising concerns as tensions between the neighboring countries escalate. The sightings come just days after Ethiopia and Eritrea severed diplomatic ties.

At least two individuals in the town of Adigrat, located approximately 25 kilometers (15 miles) south of the Eritrean border, told Reuters they observed "dozens" of Eritrean soldiers traveling in two trucks on Wednesday. The witnesses identified the soldiers by their distinctive off-white camouflage uniforms. Another resident of Adigrat, who was not present at the time, reported that family members had also seen Eritrean troops.

Gebreigziabher Beyene, commander of the Tigray Peace Force, a pro-government militia that has supported the federal army, stated that the Eritrean army had entered Tigray "in uniform, equipped with heavy weaponry." He added that this force was being targeted by drones and was "deliberately deploying its forces so that the fighting takes place inside Tigray rather than spilling into Eritrea."

Last week, the chief administrator of Ethiopia's northeastern Afar region had also claimed Eritrean troops were fighting in that area, though Reuters was unable to independently confirm that assertion. Eritrea's Information Minister, Yemane Meskel, addressed the reports via X, not explicitly denying border crossings but accusing Ethiopia's government of fabricating a "fallacious narrative of ‘self-defense’ to rationalise and camouflage its war of aggression."

If confirmed, these reported sightings would represent the first instance of Eritrean forces being observed inside Ethiopia since the resumption of conflict between Ethiopian forces and a seven-group armed alliance, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), on September 23. Ethiopia has previously accused Eritrea, along with Egypt and Sudan, of supporting the armed alliance battling the Ethiopian government.

The diplomatic rupture occurred on Thursday, following Ethiopia's announcement of its intention to close its embassy in Asmara and expel 10 Eritrean diplomats. Eritrea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by stating that Ethiopia's actions left it "no option but to reciprocate in kind and sever all diplomatic ties with Ethiopia."

This development follows the Ethiopian federal forces' capture of Tigray's regional capital, Mekelle, on Monday. The TPLF had confirmed its withdrawal from the city and the "temporary" relocation of its regional administration shortly before the federal forces entered. The capture of Mekelle coincided with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's inauguration for a new five-year term, during which he reiterated his country's need for access to the Red Sea.

All three countries accused by Ethiopia of backing the armed alliance—Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan—have denied any involvement in the conflict. The current surge in fighting and the renewed presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia signal a significant deterioration in regional stability and complicate the ongoing internal conflict.