TDF fighters down Ethiopia's military plane suspected to be carrying Eritrea troops

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) said they have downed an Ethiopian military plane on Wednesday, a top official confirmed, in a move that could trigger fresh tensions in the restless Tigray region of Ethiopia.

For the last eight months, Ethiopia National Defense Forces [ENDF] with assistance from Eritrea troops have been carrying out operations at the Tigray region, in pursuit of TDF fighters. The conflict was triggered by the TDF's decision to attack the Northern Command.

Getachew Rada, a former Communication Minister in Ethiopia's legendary coalition government, now an advisor to Tigray's presidency besides doubling as Executive Committee members of TDF, confirmed the incident while blaming the troops for atrocities in Tigray.

Reports indicate the aircraft C-130, was carrying troops and ammunition but was shot down in the vicinity of Gijet on Wednesday. Images taken from the crash site show that the aircraft was totally destroyed. There are no survivors, sources revealed.

The loss of the aircraft was described as "painful" to the Ethiopian military by security analysts, who said it was one of the only planes we ty single-digit cargo. Images further showed TDF fighters inspecting the aircraft's debris at the scene.

Rada, a critic of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, accused the government of unleashing terror on "innocent" civilians in Tigray, adding that such "attacks" necessitated the attack on the aircraft. According to him, most of the soldiers on board were in Eritrea military uniforms.

"AbiyAhmed's desperate action after his heavy losses on the battlefield is taking his wrath on civilians as it was made clear in the wanton air attack in a marketplace in Togoga," he said. "Today our antiaircraft units downed a C130 transport plane carrying explosives and munitions."

He added: "Also on board were military officers with Eritrean camouflage uniforms. With thousands of his forces killed and captured, theNakedEmperorofEthiopia would stop at nothing to terrorize civilians. Here are snapshots of the remains of the downed plane."

The Ethiopian government had declared victory against TPLF in March this year after months of fighting, but the troops are yet to leave. There are also claims that Eritrea troops have been fighting in the region, killing thousands of civilians in what has been described as "genocide".

But the European Union has condemned the incident which took place in Tembien District, saying: "This is yet another attack adding up to the horrific series of International Humanitarian Law and human rights violations, atrocities, ethnic violence, combined with serious allegations of use of starvation and sexual violence as weapons of conflict."

"The EU strongly condemns the deliberate targeting of civilians. This is not justifiable in any terms and goes against International Humanitarian Law. Those atrocities cannot be justified by using the preservation of the territorial integrity of Ethiopia as an argument," it further said.

The incident comes at the time Ethiopia is in elections mood, with many observers terming Monday's polls as "free and fair". However, elections did not take in most parts of the country including Tigray due to endless conflicts, leading to mass murder.

The EU now wants all the warring factions to put the country's future ahead, adding that serious actions should be taken. EU and the US are among entities that have imposed sanctions on those believed to be behind the chaos in Tigray.

"We reiterate the urgent call for an immediate ceasefire in Tigray and for unrestricted humanitarian access to all those affected by the conflict in the region," read the statement.

"What is happening in Tigray is appalling. It is time for the international community to wake up and take action. The High Representative has put Ethiopia on the agenda of the next Foreign Affairs Council in July to discuss with Member States EU actions in response."

GAROWE ONLINE