Ethiopian forces recapture two key towns from Tigray rebels, government says.

Ethiopia’s government says it has recaptured the strategic towns of Dessie and Kombolcha from Tigrayan rebels. The two cities, which lie in the Amhara region on a highway about 400 kilometres (250 miles) by road northeast of the capital Addis Ababa, were reportedly taken by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) at the end of October.

“The historic Dessie city and the trade and industry corridor city, Kombolcha have been freed by the joint gallant security forces,” the government communications service said on Twitter.

TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda, however, tweeted their forces left the two towns “as part of our plan.” 

The capture of the two cities had sparked fears that the TPLF and its ally, the Oromo Liberation Army, would march on the capital, leading alarmed foreign governments to urge their citizens to leave the country as soon as possible.