Ethiopia has admitted it was behind airstrikes in the capital of the conflict-riven Tigray region – hours after it denied it had carried out what rebels say were deadly raids.
The state-run news agency said the attacks had targeted rebel’s communications and weapons facilities.
But media controlled by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) said three civilians had been killed.
The rebel group is at war with Ethiopia’s federal government.
The government initially denied the allegations it had struck targets in Tigray’s capital, Mekelle.
“Why would the Ethiopian government attack its own city? Mekelle is an Ethiopian city,” government spokesman Legesse Tulu asked.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs went on to accuse the TPLF of killing at least 30 civilians in recent attacks in Amhara and Afar regional states, which both border Tigray.
