Ethiopian Army Accused of Drone Strikes Killing Four Civilians, Including Three-Year-Old Girl, in Amhara
Ethiopian government forces have been accused of carrying out drone and heavy weapons attacks on civilian communities in the Amhara region, reportedly killing four people, including a three-year-old girl, and injuring at least 15 others. Fano's Shewa Command, cited by the Amhara Capacity Building Institute (ACBI), said the strikes affected Fura in Berehet and Sichat in Hagere Mariam, where homes, schools and agricultural workers were allegedly targeted.
ADDIS ABABA — New allegations have emerged against the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) following reports of deadly drone and heavy weapons attacks in the conflict-affected Amhara region.
According to the Amhara Capacity Building Institute, information received from Fano's Shewa Command indicates that federal military units conducted attacks against two civilian communities in North Shewa.
The locations were identified as Fura Kebele in Berehet district and Sichat Kebele in the Hagere Mariam area.
The opposition command reported four civilian deaths and at least 15 injuries, including the death of a three-year-old girl.
The exact casualty figures and the attribution of the attacks to Ethiopian government forces have not been independently verified.
Ethiopian Military Accused of Using Drones Against Civilian Settlements
ACBI alleged that the Ethiopian army used unmanned aerial vehicles and heavy weapons during operations affecting the two communities.
Its statement attributed responsibility to forces operating under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
The precise timing of the reported attacks, the type of drones deployed and the identity of the units involved have not been independently established.
It also remains unclear whether the incidents in Berehet and Hagere Mariam formed part of one coordinated military operation.
Young Child Among Reported Fatalities
Fano's Shewa Command said four civilians were killed and at least 15 others wounded.
A three-year-old girl was identified among the reported fatalities.
No independently authenticated list of victims or detailed medical assessment of the injured has been released.
The identities of the other people reportedly killed and the distribution of casualties between the two locations remain unclear.
Medical records and direct testimony from witnesses would be essential to confirming the reported toll.
Homes, Schools and Farmers Allegedly Targeted
The statement claimed that the attacks extended into areas used for ordinary civilian activities.
ACBI alleged that residential buildings, schools and farmers harvesting crops were among the locations or people affected.
The organisation did not specify how many schools or homes sustained damage, or provide a verified breakdown of agricultural losses.
If substantiated, the allegations would raise serious questions concerning target identification and precautions taken to protect civilians during military operations.
Earlier Government Drone Strikes Documented in Amhara
The latest allegations come against a documented history of civilian harm during Ethiopia's conflict with Fano-affiliated armed groups.
Human Rights Watch's World Report 2026 recorded earlier drone incidents in Amhara that killed civilians.
These included a strike on a house in North Shewa that killed a pregnant woman, her six-year-old daughter and a young man.
Another attack in East Gojjam reportedly killed 16 people, including children, and injured 10.
Those previously documented incidents do not independently establish responsibility for the latest reported strikes in Fura and Sichat.
Renewed Fighting Across North Shewa
Military activity has intensified in several North Shewa districts during October.
Fano-affiliated forces claimed gains in towns around Menz, while residents reported casualties and damage to homes during clashes involving federal troops.
Local reporting also described footage of what was said to be an Ethiopian government drone wreck in the wider area.
The precise location and circumstances of that footage have not been fully verified.
The conflict between Ethiopia's federal military and Fano groups has continued since 2023, with repeated reports of civilian casualties and disruptions to essential services.
Calls for Investigation Into Ethiopian Army Operations
ACBI has demanded accountability for the reported attacks.
No independently verified response specifically addressing Fura and Sichat has been identified from the Ethiopian Ministry of Defence.
Determining responsibility would require examination of witness testimony, original photographs, medical documentation and available military evidence.
International humanitarian law requires armed forces to distinguish civilian persons and objects from legitimate military targets and to take feasible precautions to reduce civilian harm.
Images of Injured People Circulate
ACBI's social media post included photographs depicting individuals said to have been wounded.
However, the images have not been independently geolocated or authenticated as originating from the reported incidents.
The evidence currently available is therefore insufficient to establish the precise circumstances of the alleged attacks, even as the claims add to concerns about the safety of civilians in Amhara.