Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.
Israeli media: 32% of Americans still support "Israel's" war on Hamas, while 60% oppose it.
Israeli media: Core US support for "Israel" hits its lowest, while support for Palestine reaches its highest levels.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent reports martyrs, injuries in Israeli bombardment of home in Heker al-Jame area in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza.
Al-Quds Governorate: Today, the spatial division of Al-Aqsa Mosque began in a public and dangerous manner, and we warn of a religious war in the region
The Ministry of Health in Gaza: This brings the total number of victims of famine and malnutrition to 175, including 93 children

Eritrean forces continue withdrawal process from Tigray: Witnesses

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 22 Jan 2023 12:04
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Witnesses say Eritrean troops have been seen leaving two towns in the war-torn Ethiopian region of Tigray since Friday afternoon for an unknown destination.

  • x
  • Convoys of Eritrean troops withdrawing two towns in Tigray.
    Convoys of Eritrean troops withdrawing from two towns in Tigray

Convoys of Eritrean troops have been seen withdrawing from two towns in the war-torn Ethiopian region of Tigray, where they had reportedly spent the past two years supporting the Ethiopian army in its campaign against Tigrayan rebels, locals told AFP.

Witnesses said Eritrean troops have been leaving Shire and Adwa since Friday afternoon for an unknown destination, though some soldiers were still present in the two towns on Saturday.

On November 2, the Ethiopian government and Tigray People's Liberation Fron (TPLF) announced signing an agreement to settle their dispute which has crippled Ethiopia over the past two years. In late December, a high-level Ethiopian team arrived in Tigray's capital Mekele for a first official visit to supervise the implementation of the peace agreement, which included disarming rebel forces, restoring federal authority in Tigray, and reopening access and communications to the region, which has been cut off since mid-2021.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Saturday that "the ongoing withdrawal" of Eritrean troops is "key to securing a sustainable peace in northern Ethiopia," but neither Tigrayan authorities nor the Ethiopian government or any regional body acting as a mediator confirmed the retreat.

A video taken by a resident and sent to AFP showed trucks of soldiers driving out of town. Another local confirmed having seen a convoy of trucks, buses, tanks, and pieces of artillery rolling out of town but added that some Eritrean soldiers were still "walking the streets and around the markets" on Saturday. 

Related News

Ethiopia at UN calls for quicker progress on peace deal

Amnesty Int. unreliable reports pushing for Eritrea regime change

Eritrean forces have also been seen leaving Adwa, about 85 kilometers (53 miles) to the east of Shire.

"The majority were headed west... while some others were headed towards the north in the direction of Rama," a town near the Eritrean border, one Adwa resident told AFP on Saturday. However, he said, "This morning I saw there were still quite a few Eritrean soldiers left."

"People are waiting to find out if the Eritrean forces are really withdrawing," the witness indicated, pointing out that "there have already been announcements of Eritrean soldiers leaving, only for them to come back later from other directions."

Situated on the border with Tigray, Eritrea reportedly sent in troops at the start of the conflict to support Ethiopian forces in the warm which broke out in November 2020 when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed deployed the army to arrest Tigrayan leaders whom he accused of attacking federal military bases.

The exact toll of the war, which has largely come to an end, remains unknown, but the International Crisis Group think tank and Amnesty International have called it "one of the deadliest in the world".

Last week, the Financial Times cited former Nigerian President and the African Union's chief negotiator in the peace talks Olusegun Obasanjo as saying that an estimated 600,000 people were killed during the war.

Read more: Tigray rebels start handing over heavy weapons: TPLF spokesperson

  • TPLF
  • Africa
  • Ethiopia
  • Tigray
  • Eritrea

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS