Flights to the historic Ethiopian town of Lalibela have been suspended as fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia, raising fresh concerns that the country could be heading toward a wider conflict.

The suspension was reported on September 24, 2026, as clashes involving Tigrayan forces and their allies spread into parts of the Amhara and Afar regions. Lalibela, located in Amhara, is a UNESCO-listed cultural and religious destination famous for its medieval rock-hewn churches.

Fighting Spreads Beyond Tigray

Tigrayan forces have seized three local airports and launched attacks in neighbouring regions, marking the most serious escalation since the devastating 2020–2022 Tigray war.

Ethiopia’s military said it had repelled the latest attacks and claimed that more than 500 enemy fighters had been killed, wounded or captured. Reuters said it could not independently verify the military’s figures.

Sources told Reuters that fighting was reported around Lalibela but had not entered the town itself. Residents in several northern areas have reportedly been stocking up on food and withdrawing cash amid fears of renewed shortages and disruption.

Fears of a Return to War

The latest escalation follows growing tensions between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The TPLF says its forces entered what it describes as a defensive war, while the federal government has accused the group of launching a planned offensive.

The United Nations and European Union have called for restraint and a return to the African Union-brokered peace process that ended the previous conflict in 2022. The EU has said differences should be resolved through dialogue rather than military action.

The renewed violence is also raising concerns for tourism and humanitarian access in northern Ethiopia, particularly around Lalibela, one of the country’s most important religious and cultural sites.

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