Tensions have escalated between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigrayan region after Tigrayan forces seized airports in Mekelle and elsewhere and attacked government positions in Afar and Amhara. Tigray’s administration claims its moves are in response to federal attacks, which include the use of drones, artillery, and infantry. An adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed condemned the offensive and accused the Tigray People’s Liberation Front of reckless escalation. The development comes after months of tensions between the two sides and threatens to revive the 2020–2022 civil war between them, which killed hundreds of thousands of people. Moreover, the stakes now extend beyond Tigray: Ethiopia’s strategic position and Abiy’s interest in Red Sea access could draw Eritrea and other regional actors into a new crisis.