On Friday, the Ethiopian military stated that its air force destroyed a military training center in Mekele, the capital of the troubled Tigray region, held by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The UN and aid workers reported civilian casualties and damages in the latest airstrikes.
The Ethiopian government’s communication service told local outlets that “another of the TPLF terrorist group’s training centers was the target of airstrikes.”
It was further said that the site targeted used to be the Ethiopian National Defense Forces’ training center before being appropriated by the TPLF to “undertake military training for its illegal recruits.” The statement given also indicated that the base served as a battle network hub by the TPLF.
Information of the latest strike also express that it had hit a civilian-populated area. The area’s residents say there are reports of civilian casualties and a lot of damage to civilian-owned infrastructure. The airstrike hit Mekele University and damaged university buildings.
Relief workers in the area said that first responders were civilians but emergency services have also been dispatched to areas hit.
Locals have denied that the Ethiopian jets targeted a military training center, saying that they hit an area with the building of an educational institution and was populated by civilians.
