• Ethiopia’s government forces are in control of the historic town of Lalibela

Ethiopian government forces have captured several towns from Tigray rebel forces, including Woldia and Kobo, head of the Government Communication Service said.

According to Legesse Tulu, head of Government Communication Service, government forces recaptured a string of strategic towns, Sanqa, Sirinka, Hara, Robit, Woldia and kobo.

Woldia, a hilly market town found in the North Wollo Zone of Amhara Regional State, was captured by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group in early August.

Legesse Tulu also said that the towns of Hamusit, Estaysh, Ahun Tegen, Dilb, Kul Mesk and surrounding areas were liberated by the federal troops.

The recapture of Woldia, the administrative capital of North Wollo Zone, came about two weeks after Dessie and Kombolcha were liberated from TPLF control, making it the last of a number of gains on the battlefield against the Tigrayan forces, who had in November pushed south and threatened to march on the capital, Addis Ababa.

Located 520 km from Addis Ababa, 120km north of Dessie and 230km south of Mekele, the town of Woldia is said to have a population of more than 200,000 and places itself as an important hub in the so-called 300km China Road that connect it to Woreta.

Government forces also recaptured the historic town of Lalibela, a week after its capture by rebellious Tigrayan forces. The government troops took over Lalibela on December 1, driving out the TPLF forces who had been in control of the town since the beginning of August but within a few days the town fell to the rebels, until they were pushed on this past weekend again.

Lalibela, as such, is not thought to be of great strategic military value as this town of 20,000 inhabitants is not located at important road junctions. But it is extremely symbolic, known for its rock hewn churches classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Deputy Prime Minister and  Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen Sunday visited the churches to assess their current condition, state-run broadcaster said.

The war broke out in November 4, 2020 when forces loyal to the former ruling party in Tigray launched simultaneous attacks on military bases in the region. Ethiopian armed forces made a victory,  fully controlling the city of Mekele but the rebels mounted a shock comeback, recapturing most of Tigray by June before advancing into the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara.