At least 26 people have died in Ethiopia's Amhara region due to what is suspected to be an airstrike at the beginning of the week. A state-appointed human rights organization reported details of the widespread killings of civilians since the fighting erupted this month. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission stated that federal forces managed to expel members of the Fano militia from most major towns in Amhara at the end of last week, but clashes continue in other parts of the region.
The Ethiopian government denies accusations against Fano, a militia that attracts volunteers from local populations and was an ally of the National Defense Forces during the Tigray War. Government and military officials, as well as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, did not respond to requests for comments on the suspected airstrike or the statement from the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Monday.
A hospital official, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the suspected airstrike hit the center of Finote Selam town on Sunday. They added that four people died in the hospital, while 22 others were killed either at the scene or on the way to the hospital. The official also mentioned that 55 others are receiving treatment for injuries sustained in the blast. Additionally, it was reported that the capital Addis Ababa has witnessed widespread arrests of civilians from the Amhara ethnicity.
