• Civilians among the victims in drone attacks

Clashes between government forces and local militias in Debre Tabor, the administrative town of the South Gondar Zone in the Amhara region, have caused casualties and property damage, according to residents cited by BBC Amharic.

Residents told the BBC that the clashes, which caused significant damage in the town, erupted about a month after tensions escalated in the area and nearby communities. Four residents, who did not want to give their names, said they heard gunfire in the town between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

The clashes, which lasted until midday, resulted in police stations and state buildings being set on fire, and left members of both government soldiers and Fano militants dead, the witnesses were quoted as saying.

One resident said, “The Farta district police station has been completely destroyed, and the town police station in the Kes Alemayehu area, along with the zonal police headquarters, have been burned down.”

One resident said, “The attack happened on the outskirts of the town, and a drone strike was carried out in the Kidane Mehret area of Abba Aregawi. There was a Fano presence in the area. They have been attacked repeatedly,” he said.

Residents said that four innocent civilians were among the victims.

In a statement, the Debre Tabor town administration said the forces, which it described as “invading,” caused widespread destruction and looted both government and private property. The administration said the armed militants “set fire to numerous town administration buildings, as well as those of the head of South Gondar Zone and Farta woreda, and destroyed electronics shops and other property.”

It also said the militants set fire to ambulances and other vehicles. The town administration shared photos of the damaged buildings and property on its Facebook page.