MEKELLE — Thousands of civilians are reportedly fleeing the regional capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region today, March 12, 2026, as military tensions in the Horn of Africa reach a breaking point. Witnesses describe long queues at bus stations and airports as families attempt to relocate before potential hostilities break out. The panic follows weeks of escalating rhetoric between Addis Ababa and Asmara. According to regional observers, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has moved heavy artillery and thousands of troops toward the northern boundary, while Eritrean infantry units have been spotted in strategic positions near the border towns of Zalambessa and Rama. Officials from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have accused the federal government of 'encircling' the region, while Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration maintains that the movements are necessary for national security. International diplomats have called for an immediate de-escalation, warning that a return to conflict could surpass the devastation of the 2020-2022 civil war.