Mekelle is the regional capital of Tigray, in northern Ethiopia. The available information describes Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters retreating in the face of the advance by pro-government forces, but does not specify the extent of government control over the city.
RFI reports that some local residents described the rebels as leaving the regional capital as pro-government forces approached. France 24 provides a similar account, citing a local journalist and residents through AFP.
Al Jazeera reported that Ethiopian government forces had reportedly recaptured Mekelle airport. In the available material, however, this information appears without independent confirmation; it is therefore not possible to establish from these sources alone the current level of control over the facility.
According to France 24, the TPLF had been fighting federal forces and pro-government militias since September 23, 2026, and had also launched attacks in neighboring states. The outlet links these developments to the risk of a wider conflict, without providing further operational details in the available material.
The location of the fighters who reportedly withdrew from Mekelle is not specified. The available sources describe their abandonment of the regional capital, but do not indicate where they went or whether the withdrawal concerns the entire city or only some areas.
RFI described the fighting in Tigray as the most intense in the region since the 2020–2022 civil war. This characterization belongs to the outlet's account and is not presented as an independent assessment by the other sources examined.
The reported rebel withdrawal and the advance of pro-government forces therefore mark a significant change in the situation around Mekelle. Based on the available information, both actual control of the capital and the status of the airport mentioned by Al Jazeera remain unclear.