A helicopter Monday carried out airstrikes in the town of Mekele, capital of Tigray regional state, killing 2 civilians, residents said.

The region’s television station confirmed that Endagiorgis area of Kedamy Woyene sub city was targetted at around 10:45 AM. The station first said the region was assessing the damage caused by the raids but later reported at least two civilians had been killed and a number wounded.

The Ethiopian federal government confirmed carrying out new airstrikes outside Mekele, calling them “precision-led and surgical” and denying the Tigray government’s assertion that civilians had been killed.

Ethiopia’s prime minister a week ago said his government would carry out airstrikes on selected military targets. Civilians in the northern region should avoid “collateral damage” by not gathering outside as strikes would continue, Abiy said in a televised speech.