• Fighting between Tigray rebels and federal troops escalates to full-blown war.
• The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has seized control of key airports.
• Concerns grow over possible regional involvement, particularly from Eritrea.

Intense fighting has erupted across northern Ethiopia, with Tigray rebels declaring a state of "full-blown war" against the federal government. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has reportedly seized control of three airports and initiated attacks into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions, significantly escalating tensions that had been building over recent months, according to Al Jazeera and Africa News.

The Ethiopian army has stated that it repelled TPLF attacks, claiming to have inflicted heavy casualties on rebel forces, while local residents report significant artillery attacks by Tigrayan forces in the Afar region. TPLF vice-president Amanuel Assefa remarked, "We are in the situation of full-blown war now," signaling a major escalation from previous hostilities, per BBC and Le Monde.

The TPLF's recent formation of an alliance with six other armed groups represents a significant shift in the conflict landscape, as these groups unite with the shared objective of overthrowing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. This coalition includes various movements, notably the Amhara Fano National Movement, reflecting an unprecedented political realignment in Ethiopia, according to Reuters and Africa News.

The humanitarian situation in Tigray is becoming increasingly dire, with reports of heavy fighting and severe shortages of cash and basic goods. As fears of a government blockade loom, residents in Mekelle are panicking, attempting to stock up on supplies amidst concerns over the government's limitations on banking and communication networks, as cited by BBC and Le Monde.

In the broader context, there are apprehensions that this conflict may not only engulf Ethiopia but could also involve regional powers, particularly Eritrea, which is suspected of providing support to Tigray rebels. Analysts warn that the alliance's effectiveness may be challenged by internal discord and competing interests among the various groups involved, highlighting the complex dynamics of regional rivalry and local grievances that might escalate the conflict further, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.