Ethiopian PM announces "final phase" of military operation

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced the “final phase” of a military operation of the northern region of Tigray after a 72-hour deadline for opposition forces to surrender expired yesterday. The announcement follows nearly a month of violence in the region, which began after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (a once-dominant political party in Ethiopia) was accused of holding an illegal election and attacking a federal army base. The ongoing violence has prompted the United Nations and other groups to call for de-escalation, warning that the ongoing conflict could lead to heavy casualties, destruction, and mass displacement.