Aerial Strike Disrupts Broadcast Operations and Damages Media Complex in Regional Capital
By Staff Writer
(NAIROBI, Kenya ) — A drone strike targeted the headquarters of Tigray Television in the regional capital of Mekelle on September 27, 2026, causing physical damage to the facility and disrupting broadcast operations across the area.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported hearing a major explosion before fleeing the media complex. Reports from the site show shattered glass across the main building facade, with upper sections blackened by smoke. Broadcasts were forced offline following the strike, affecting an estimated workforce of 400 journalists and media personnel.
Neither the Tigray Regional Administration nor federal government authorities have issued formal public statements regarding direct responsibility or casualties associated with the Mekelle strike.
The attack follows recent regulatory measures implemented by national media authority. The Ethiopian Broadcast Authority suspended Tigray Television indefinitely after the station broadcast a joint declaration from a newly formed coalition of seven armed opposition groups. Regulatory officials issued strict warnings against third-party media outlets utilizing the station as a primary news source.
Tigrayan regional authorities attributed the aerial strike to federal armed forces amidst ongoing military engagements along regional border zones. The strike coincides with active armed conflicts across multiple regional theaters, including the Amhara and Oromia regions, raising concerns among political analysts regarding potential cross-regional coordination among opposition groups.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern over the escalating hostilities, specifically highlighting the recurring deployment of armed drones and the growing risk of civilian harm. Concurrently, the African Union called on all neighboring states to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could broaden the conflict, amid regional diplomatic concerns regarding external military involvement.
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