Drone strikes during the Fano insurgency
During the Fano insurgency, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has heavily utilized drone strikes in combat operations against the Fano militia and the civilian population. The attacks have reportedly resulted in widespread destruction, civilian casualties, and a growing humanitarian crisis.[1]
Since late 2024, drone operations have escalated drastically following the commencement of major ENDF counteroffensives. This escalation has notably impacted rural communities and urban fringes across the Gojjam, Shewa, and Wollo zones, repeatedly drawing international concern over collateral infrastructure damage and non-combatant fatalities.[2]
Over 600 people have been killed in drone strikes since the insurgency began in 2023.[3]
List of drone strikes
[edit] |
| Date | Location | Target/Context | Reported Casualties | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 August 2023 | Finote Selam (West Gojjam Zone) |
Town center / Public square |
|
[4][5][6] |
| 9 November 2023 | Waber (East Gojjam Zone) |
Primary school and surrounding civilian area |
|
[7][8][9] |
| 30 November 2023 | Wegel Tena (South Wollo Zone) |
Near healthcare facility infrastructure |
|
[10][11][12] |
| 5 December 2023 | Wegel Tena (South Wollo Zone) |
Residential/Militia encounter corridor |
|
[13][14] |
| 19 February 2024 | Near Sasit (North Shewa Zone) |
Passenger truck transit route |
|
[15][16][17] |
| 11–14 October 2024 | Gerchech, Mecha woreda (North Gojjam Zone) |
Intermittent strikes during military counteroffensive |
|
[18][19][20] |
| 26 October 2024 | Achefer (North Gojjam Zone) |
Rural settlement corridors |
|
[21] |
| 5 November 2024 | Durbete (West Gojjam Zone) |
Town vicinity during intense infantry clashes |
|
[22] |
| 17 April 2025 | Gedeb (East Gojjam Zone) |
Rural locality / Local congregation area |
|
[23][24] |
| 15 January 2026 | Wag Hemra Zone | Friendly fire incident on pro-government base camp |
|
[3] |
References
[edit]- ↑ Account (2024-10-23). "Urgent Call to Address Ongoing Drone Strikes Targeting Civilians and Infrastructure in Amhara, Ethiopia". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ Observer, Ethiopia (2024-10-20). "'More than a hundred killed' by drone attack in Amhara region". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- 1 2 "Ethiopia: at least 40 army allies killed in drone strike". Africanews. 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-06-30.
- ↑ "Ethiopia Amhara: Air strike kills at least 26 in Finote Selam". 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "At Least 26 Killed in Drone Strike in Ethiopia's Amhara Region". Voice of America. 2023-08-14. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "News: Death toll from Finote Selam airstrike reaches at least 30, doctors fear lack of Oxygen may drive fatalities up". Addis Standard. 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "Ethiopia: Violence in Amhara region". OHCHR. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "Dozens Killed in Recent Clashes in Ethiopia's Amhara Region, UN Says". Voice of America. 2023-11-17. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ Insight, Addis (2023-11-18). "School and Civilians Targeted: UN Condemns Deadly Drone Strikes in Ethiopia's Amhara". Addis Insight. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ Zelalem, Zecharias (2023-12-29). "'Collective punishment': Ethiopia drone strikes target civilians in Amhara". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ Account (2023-12-02). "Wegel Tena, Delanta : Medical doctor, Civilians killed in drone strike". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "Ethiopia: Army Attacks Health Care in Amhara Conflict". Human Rights Watch. 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "Ethiopia: EPO Weekly: 2-8 December 2023". ReliefWeb. 2023-12-13. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ ACLED, Communications (2023-12-13). "EPO Weekly: 2-8 December 2023". Ethiopia Peace Observatory. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ Insight, Addis (2024-02-21). "The Deadly Drone Strike in Amhara Leaves 30+ Victims". Addis Insight. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "Ethiopia: Drone Strike Claims Lives of At Least 30 Individuals in North Shewa Zone of Amhara Region". Addis Standard. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "Ethiopia: 30 killed, 18 injured in Ethiopian air strike on passenger truck near Sasit, Amhara". ReliefWeb. 2024-02-24. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ Observer, Ethiopia (2024-10-20). "'More than a hundred killed' by drone attack in Amhara region". Ethiopia Observer. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ town-become-latest-targets/ "Intense Fighting Continues To Rattle Amhara Cities, Towns". Addis Standard. 2024-10-22. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ↑ Account (2024-10-15). "Ethiopian gov't continues drone, airstrike in Amhara region". Borkena Ethiopian News. Retrieved 2024-11-01.
- ↑ "በሰሜን ጎጃም በድሮን ጥቃት ነፍሰ ጡር ሴቶችን ጨምሮ 50 የሚሆኑ ሰዎች መገደላቸውን የዓይን እማኞች ተናገሩ" [Eyewitnesses said that 50 people, including pregnant women, were killed in a drone attack in North Gojjam]. BBC News አማርኛ Amharic (in Amharic). 2024-11-08. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ↑ "Drone strike, intense clashes in West Gojjam's Durbete town claim civilian lives; residents report militants among dead". Addis Standard. 2024-11-07. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
- ↑ "More than 100 people killed in drone strike in East Gojjam zone, Amhara region; eyewitnesses report civilian casualties". Addis Standard. 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2025-05-04.
- ↑ "በምሥራቅ ጎጃም በተፈጸመ የድሮን ጥቃት "ከ100 በላይ ሰዎች መገደላቸውን" የዓይን እማኞች ተናገሩ" [Eyewitnesses stated "over 100 people killed" in a drone strike carried out in East Gojjam]. BBC News አማርኛ Amharic (in Amharic). 2025-04-23. Retrieved 2025-05-05.