According to information from there, parts of the capital of the Ethiopian region Tigray have been bombed by fighter planes. The allegation was read out on Thursday evening in the region’s broadcaster.

With the attack on Mekele, the region should be subdued, it said. The Ethiopian government initially did not comment on this. Their armed forces said they would be forced into “an unexpected and senseless war”.

The army’s deputy commander, Birhanu Jula, said, however, that troops from other parts of the country would be sent to the fighting in Tigray. This was a remarkable escalation and there was little evidence that either side was ready to engage in talks instead.