Addis Ababa:The United States Ambassador to Ethiopia has described the resurgence of conflict in the country's northern regions as an "unwinnable fight." The diplomat cautioned that Washington might impose further sanctions on leaders contributing to the escalation.

According to Anadolu Agency, Ambassador Ervin J. Massinga expressed disappointment over the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launching a significant offensive. Earlier this year, the United States sanctioned the TPLF, a political and military entity that engaged in a two-year war with Ethiopia's federal government in the Tigray region.

Massinga criticized the rejection of dialogue facilitated by the African Union under former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. He emphasized that engaging in an "unwinnable fight" would not benefit the Ethiopian people and warned that other armed groups should avoid similar actions. The US has indicated it possesses "tools to sanction additional leaders" attempting to lead Ethiopia astray.

The statement followed intensified fighting in Tigray and surrounding areas, raising concerns of a renewed conflict reminiscent of the one that previously caused significant casualties and displacement. Tigray authorities claimed federal forces had attacked the region, prompting defensive responses from Tigrayan forces.

The African Union urged restraint and immediate de-escalation, reiterating that the 2022 Pretoria Agreement remains the foundation for peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia. This agreement, signed in November 2022, ended major hostilities but left unresolved issues regarding disputed territories, the return of displaced people, and the disarmament of Tigrayan forces.

Amid the growing tensions, Tigrayan forces seized control of airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire, leading Ethiopian Airlines to suspend flights to these cities due to security concerns. Additionally, seven armed and political groups from across Ethiopia, including the TPLF, recently announced an alliance to coordinate their opposition to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's federal government.