Drone Strike Reportedly Kills Students at Ethiopian Primary School as Second Attack Hits Government Building in Amhara

ADDIS ABABA — Reports of two drone strikes in Ethiopia's Amhara region on Tuesday have raised fresh concerns about civilian protection amid continuing fighting between federal government forces and armed opposition groups.

According to a statement issued by the Amhara Capacity Building Institute, Sana Primary School in Dera Woreda, South Gondar Zone, was struck while pupils were attending lessons.

The organisation reported that several students were killed and numerous others suffered injuries ranging from minor to severe.

In a separate incident, ACBI said a drone attack destroyed the municipal administration office in Welesh town, Andabet Woreda, at approximately 11:40 a.m. local time.

The group attributed both attacks to Ethiopian government forces under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

However, no independent investigation has yet established the circumstances of the reported strikes or identified the forces responsible.

Students Reportedly Hit During School Hours

ACBI alleged that the strike on Sana Primary School occurred while children were inside the school attending classes.

The organisation described fatalities among pupils and injuries of varying severity.

It did not provide an exact death toll, identify the victims or disclose the number of children receiving medical treatment.

Details about the extent of damage to classrooms and other school facilities have also not been independently verified.

Restricted access to conflict-affected areas and interruptions to communications have complicated efforts to obtain direct accounts from witnesses, local health workers and education officials.

Separate Strike Reported in Welesh Town

The second incident was reported in Andabet Woreda, another district in South Gondar.

According to ACBI, a drone strike hit the municipal administration office in Welesh at approximately 11:40 a.m.

The organisation claimed that the building was destroyed.

It remains unclear whether the structure was occupied at the time, whether anyone was injured or killed, and whether the incident formed part of the same military operation as the reported school strike.

No independently authenticated photographs, casualty records or official damage assessment were available to establish the full consequences of the attack.

Sana School Was Previously Named in September Strike Reports

The October 20 allegation follows earlier reports involving the same educational facility.

Local Amhara-focused organisations claimed that drone strikes hit Sana and Mecho primary schools in Dera Woreda on September 7, 2026.

Those reports described students and families gathering for school registration when the attacks allegedly occurred.

A September 13 statement published by Amhara Advocacy Group claimed that Sana Primary School had sustained extensive damage and that civilians had been killed or injured.

However, the extent of the earlier damage has not been independently established.

It is also necessary to determine whether the September and October reports concern separate incidents or overlapping accounts of the same event.

Verified timestamps, original video footage and on-site documentation will be important in establishing a reliable chronology.

Amhara Conflict Continues to Threaten Civilian Communities

Ethiopia's Amhara region has experienced prolonged armed conflict since August 2023, when tensions between federal security forces and Fano-affiliated militias escalated into widespread fighting.

Federal authorities have pursued military operations against armed groups, while Fano factions have continued to challenge government forces in several areas.

The use of drones and other heavy weapons has added to concerns about civilian casualties and damage to public infrastructure.

Human Rights Watch has previously documented serious abuses during the conflict, including incidents involving government drone strikes that killed civilians and damaged residential areas.

Its assessments have also described attacks and abuses committed by Fano fighters, alongside restrictions on access to essential services.

Rights Organisations Warn of Escalating Civilian Harm

The latest allegations come amid growing international concern over renewed hostilities across northern Ethiopia.

On October 9, Human Rights Watch and other civil society organisations called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to hold a special session addressing the country's deteriorating human rights situation.

The organisations warned that drone strikes, artillery attacks and fighting in populated areas had placed civilians and civilian infrastructure at risk.

Their appeal followed a broader military escalation affecting the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions.

They also called for stronger international monitoring and accountability mechanisms to prevent further abuses.

Protection of Schools Under International Humanitarian Law

Schools and other civilian facilities are generally protected from deliberate attack under international humanitarian law unless they become legitimate military objectives.

Intentionally attacking a protected school or its students may constitute a war crime.

Determining whether a particular incident violates the law, however, requires independent examination of the circumstances, the military status of the target and the conduct of those responsible.

Reports of student deaths at Sana Primary School therefore require a transparent assessment supported by witness testimony, medical evidence and authenticated images.

Independent Confirmation Still Needed

The reported incidents in Sana and Welesh add to concerns about the protection of civilians and essential public facilities in Ethiopia's Amhara conflict.

Nevertheless, the precise number of casualties, the extent of the reported destruction and the attribution of responsibility remain unresolved.

No independently verifiable response concerning these specific incidents was located from Ethiopia's federal government or Ministry of Defence.

Further information from medical personnel, local residents, investigators and official authorities will be essential to establishing what happened on October 20.