A lethal drone strike has shattered the fragile peace in Central Tigray, killing one and injuring another, as federal forces reportedly target food trucks in a terrifying escalation of hostilities that threatens to unravel the 2022 Pretoria Peace Agreement.

This incident is not merely a localized skirmish; it is the loudest alarm bell to ring in the Horn of Africa since the cessation of the brutal two-year civil war. With Ethiopian Airlines simultaneously suspending all flights to Mekelle and Shire, and commercial trucks now burning on the roads to Enticho, the spectre of a renewed economic blockade—and the famine that inevitably follows—looms aggressively over six million people. The targeting of civilian infrastructure carrying essential supplies like coffee, oil, and bananas suggests a tactical shift from defensive posturing to economic strangulation.

The Anatomy of the Strike

According to verified reports from the ground, the strike occurred late Friday night, targeting two Isuzu trucks navigating the road between Enticho and Gendebta, approximately 20 kilometers apart. The victims were civilians—a driver killed instantly and an assistant left with severe injuries. While the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) has maintained a stoic silence, Tigrayan officials have provided photographic evidence of the charred wreckage, accusing federal forces of a calculated provocation.

The timing is suspicious and deeply concerning. The strike coincides with reports of fresh ground clashes in Tselemt, Western Tigray, where Amhara militias—who have refused to withdraw despite the peace deal—are reportedly engaging Tigrayan Defence Forces. This multi-front escalation indicates a coordinated effort to test the region's defenses and the international community's resolve.

• The Economic Chokehold: The immediate suspension of flights by Ethiopian Airlines isolates the region, cutting off not just travelers but vital medical supplies and banking courier services. In a region where cash flow is already anemic, this is a direct hit on the daily survival of the populace.
• The Human Cost: The trucks were carrying food and cooking oil—basic necessities. By targeting logistics, the attackers are weaponizing hunger, a tactic that defined the 2020-2022 conflict which claimed an estimated 600,000 lives.

A Peace Agreement in Tatters?

The Pretoria Agreement, hailed as a diplomatic triumph, is currently on life support. The deal hinged on the disarmament of Tigrayan forces and the withdrawal of non-ENDF combatants, specifically Eritrean troops and Amhara militias. Neither has fully happened. Instead, we are witnessing a re-militarization of the "disputed territories" in the West and South. The drone strike serves as a kinetic declaration that the federal government—or rogue elements within it—is willing to use air superiority to enforce its will, bypassing the negotiation table entirely.

Diplomatic sources in Addis Ababa warn that the window for de-escalation is closing rapidly. "If the drones are flying, the peace is dying," one western diplomat told this reporter on condition of anonymity. For the people of Tigray, who have barely begun to rebuild their shattered homes and lives, the sound of a drone engine is not just a noise; it is a promise of returning hell. The international community must move beyond statements of concern and demand an immediate grounding of offensive aircraft, or watch the Horn of Africa burn once again.