Eritrean troops in Ethiopia raise fears of a regional war

Various sources have confirmed the presence of Eritrean armed forces in Ethiopia . An AFP report quoted a foreign security source, speaking on condition of anonymity, as estimating that 5,000 to 8,000 Eritrean soldiers were present in the northenmost state of Ethiopia, Tigray.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia and Eritrea have ramped up their war talk.

According to Reuters, the government of Ethiopia has written to the UN Security Council, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean troops from its territory.

In the letter, dated ‌Oct. 8, Ethiopian ‌Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos said the presence of Eritrean troops in Ethiopia left "no option but to defend itself against Eritrea,"

in a post on X on October 7, Eritrean Minister of Information Yemane Meskel had accused Ethiopia of "incessantly beating the drums of war."

Two days later, he wrote in Tigrinya, a working language of Eritrea and the main language of Tigray, that "the sovereign state of Eritrea is bound by blood and law." adding "woe to those who touch it."

This comes as the regional conflict in Tigray has deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks.

Some experts have suggested that Ethiopia may have intentionally triggered the escalation. Just last week, it expelled diplomats from Egypt and Eritrea, causing the latter to sever diplomatic ties altogether.