ASMARA/MEKELLE — The Eritrean Ministry of Information has issued a blistering rebuttal to Ethiopia's claims of military aggression, describing the allegations as a 'spiral of hostile campaigns' intended to provoke conflict. However, reports from the ground on February 17, 2026, contradict Asmara's official stance. Military sources and local residents in northern Ethiopia report a visible presence of Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) in towns such as Adigrat and Zalambessa. Infiltration routes have also been identified near the Sudanese border at Hamdayet, where EDF units are reportedly posing as civilians to enter the Humera corridor. Security researchers note that Eritrea has reinforced its readiness throughout February, conducting mass mobilizations and joint maneuvers with regional militia groups. The 'staring contest' on the border has now transitioned into active positioning, with Ethiopia characterizing the presence of EDF units as 'acts of outright aggression' that threaten the sovereignty of the Ethiopian state.