Following the outbreak of the Tigray War on 3 November 2020, the newly formed
Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) retreated to the gorges and hills of the
Wajirat district of Tigray region. The 21st Division, a well trained element of the
Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), was marching across Wajirat with the aim of capturing Tigray’s capital city,
Mekelle. According to TDF accounts, local Wajirat militias and the TDF effectively destroyed the 21st Division during a defensive battle at a location known as Gereb-Agew. After two days of fierce fighting, which saw the use of
human wave attacks, the ENDF overran Wajirat district and mounted an offensive towards the strategic town of
Hiwane in
Raya district. For the TDF, withdrawing from Hiwane meant leaving the road to Mekelle open for the Ethiopian army. After fierce fighting for the town, the TDF forces were worn down by persistent air strikes and the introduction of
drone attacks, which Tigray fighters struggled to counter. After the TDF succeeded in capturing heavy artillery pieces from the ENDF during the battle, drone strikes targeted and wiped them out. After the ENDF and its allies took over the nearby towns of Hiwane and
Adi Gudem, the TDF
chain of command collapsed as its forces fell into disarray. Rumors were rife among the TDF ranks that top military commanders were secretly colluding with the Ethiopian government and most fighters lost hope of being able to hold Mekelle.
17 November Mekelle was hit by an
airstrike, killing two civilians and injuring several others. The strike also caused damage to roads, bridges and houses. Who carried out the airstrike has been disputed, as the Ethiopian government has denied targeting civilians.
Mortar fire and
tank shells also fired upon civilian areas in the town of
Shire; hotels, schools, a university campus, an apartment building and the town's own municipal building were hit by the strikes. A number of residents interviewed by
Human Rights Watch either stated that Tigayan forces had either left before it occurred, or at the very least, "did not see militia forces present." Both
Ethiopian and
Eritrean forces were noted as entering Shire later that day. The
Ethiopian government accused the
TPLF of blowing up four main bridges leading to Mekelle, which the TPLF denied. By the end of the first day, at least 10 civilians were killed. Fighting between Tigray and
Eritrea reportedly took place in
Adi Quala,
Zalembesa, Taruna, Ali Tina, Wadqomdi, and
Badme. TPLF leader
Debretsion said that Mekelle was bombed but gave no details of casualties or injuries.
Redwan Hussein, a government spokesperson, said that government troops are closing in on Mekelle and had won multiple victories, capturing a number of towns on their campaign towards the
Tigray capital. Mekelle was hit by an airstrike which inflicted significant damage on
Mekelle University, injuring several civilians. By 21 November, government-allied forces captured
Adwa, while making advances toward
Adigrat.
22–27 November Military spokesperson of Ethiopia,
Colonel Dejene Tsegaye, announced that Mekelle will be
encircled and
shelled, telling Tigray civilians to flee the city because Ethiopian forces would show no mercy. TPLF leader
Debretsion Gebremichael said that his troops have stalled the Ethiopian forces on southern front. By 23 November the city was surrounded by the ENDF. Despite this, however, ambulances rushed through the streets picking up dead and wounded after Ethiopian government artillery strikes. Debretsion confirmed the TPLF were withdrawing from around Mekelle. Tigrayan forces said they had withdrawn from Mekelle to avoid having the federal forces from further destroying the city and that the TPLF will be fighting in surrounding rural areas, beginning a new
guerrilla campaign. ==Aftermath==