Ethiopian military is reportedly arming Tigray Peace Force (TPF) fighters with drones. TPF is a group of Tigray opposition fighters being backed by the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF).
According to multiple sources, Tigray Peace Force fighters are being trained by the ENDF about how to operate small kamikaze drones. TPF fighters are based in Afar region, Wag Himora zone Amhara region, and near Tselemti. They want to remove Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and top tier of Tigray military from power in Tigray. They accuse TPLF and Tigray military generals of denying democratic practices in Tigray. Several Tigray military generals defected in the last one year to support TPF. General Wedi Antiru (Gebregziabher Beyene) was the first top Tigray military general who started organizing TPF in the Afar region last year. Later female Major General Zewdu Kiros jointed him. Last month, three Tigray military officers Brigadier General Guesh Gebre, Brigadier General Kebede Feqadu, and Colonel Niguse Weldegebrielgeneral defected and entered Addis Ababa. Reportedly, they are also backing TPF.
Reportedly, Ethiopian military officers have been training Tigray Peace Force (TPF) fighters for several months about how to use drones. In January, TPF and ENDF jointly launched attacks on Tigray regional forces in southern Tigray. It seems that ENDF is training TPF drone operators for future conflict. Tensions are running high these days between Tigray regional leaders and the Ethiopian federal government. Both accuse each other of preparing for war.
Last year, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was seen visiting AeroAbay— KamiKaze drone manufacturing facility in Ethiopia. Reportedly TPF fighters are being trained about how to operate AeroAbay FPV drones. Last week, another Ethiopian armed group confirmed that it was operating drones to conduct strikes on the Ethiopian military. Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) released several footages showing drone strikes on the Ethiopian security forces in North Shewa zone of the Amhara region. All Ethiopian opposition armed groups and government are preparing for war by enhancing their drone capabilities.
