A series of drone strikes in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has reportedly claimed the lives of over 120 civilians, according to reports emerging from the area. The attacks occurred on Thursday in the Gedebe locality of the Enarj Enawga district, located in the East Gojjam Zone.
The strikes targeted civilians who had gathered for Passover Thursday preparations as part of the Orthodox Easter celebrations, Anchor Media reported, citing local Fano officials. Other victims included residents conducting their daily economic activities, primarily in open-air markets, and individuals engaged in the communal construction of a mud house — a traditional practice in rural Ethiopia.
The assault involved three separate rounds of drone attacks hitting multiple locations within Gedebe.
Fano spokesperson Marshet Tsehayu described the incident as “the worst drone attack” seen in the area, citing the scale of destruction and high number of casualties. Women and elderly individuals were reportedly among the dead.
The drone strike came just one day after government forces allegedly launched an artillery attack in a separate part of Gojjam, resulting in the deaths of 20 more civilians. In total, the two days of violence are believed to have left at least 150 people dead, with many others wounded. The extent and condition of the injured remain unclear.
Anchor Media also aired video footage purportedly showing community members carrying bodies from the scene.
“This kind of attack only strengthens our resolve to overthrow Abiy Ahmed’s regime,” Marshet Tsehayu told the outlet.
Human rights organizations have expressed concern over the escalating civilian death toll in the Amhara region, warning that such incidents are becoming increasingly common amid ongoing conflict. There has been no official comment from the Ethiopian government regarding the reported drone strikes in Enarj Enawga.
International rights groups have previously documented cases of extrajudicial killings and sexual violence attributed to government forces in the region.
