Witnesses have documented long lines of military hardware, including tanks and heavy artillery, being sent to strategic border towns such as Adigrat and Zalambessa. The Ethiopian military has also issued a call for veterans to re-enlist to protect the country's security interests. Meanwhile, Eritrea has responded by strengthening its own defensive positions and deploying extra battalions into contested border zones. Diplomatic experts indicate that the 2018 peace framework has effectively been neutralized by this current standoff, which many describe as a dangerous flashpoint for the Horn of Africa.