Ethiopia civil war: Both sides claim big wins

Both sides in Ethiopia's raging internal conflict claimed military successes yesterday, creating a muddied picture of fighting even as the government promised it would soon be over. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner, announced the military campaign in Tigray on November 4, saying it was in response to Tigray region's local forces' attacks on federal military camps. Tigrayan leader Debretsion Gebremichael said his forces are battering the federal forces, while Ethiopia army chief Berhanu Jula said in a statement that army was "winning on all fronts". "The TPLF's plan to drag Ethiopia into civil war and tear it apart has failed," Berhanu said.  Abiy has resisted international pressure to bring about a cessation of hostilities.