Ethiopia says it has received Russian Su-35 fighter jets as fighting continues in Tigray

Abiy, speaking during the Russia-Africa summit in Moscow, said Ethiopia had received 12 Su-35 jets under an agreement signed with Moscow several years ago, a year ahead of schedule, and that four S-400 air defence batteries would follow, the BBC and Al Jazeera reported. Aviation Week and Russian arms exporter Rosoboronexport, quoted by Reuters, said the first two aircraft had been handed over. Abiy said the new equipment would help Ethiopia "preemptively deter aggression" and gave no delivery date for the S-400 systems.

Fighting resumed last month between federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which blame each other for breaking a 2022 peace deal, the BBC reported. Government forces entered the regional capital, Mekelle, on Oct. 4, Al Jazeera reported. Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of backing the TPLF, which Eritrea denies.

Why it matters: Abiy said Ethiopia is the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to own this kind of combat technology, and the purchase deepens its military ties with Russia amid tension with neighboring Eritrea, the BBC and Anadolu Agency reported.