The Ethiopian military has seized the towns of Axum and Adwa, state media announced. Tigray special forces battling the federal defence forces in both areas had surrendered, the state-owned Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Friday.

The defence forces, “who were advancing toward the hideouts of the TPLF militia, were confronted with a siege in Selehlena after conquering Shire,” a statement published in the Ethiopia State of Emergency Fact Check service said. “The TPLF militia, which had taken refugee in Selehela, cut off roads with dozers and damaged the asphalt,” it added.