ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s military on Wednesday claimed that it killed 83 militants during a weeklong operation in the northern Amhara region, as conflict between federal government forces and Fano militia intensified.

In a statement, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces said the military operation, conducted June 25-July 2 in the Gojjam and South Gondar zones, also left 39 people wounded and 12 militants captured.

Twenty individuals also surrendered and their weapons and vehicles were seized, it added.

Fighting in Amhara escalated in July 2023, when clashes erupted between federal forces and Fano, a loosely organized network of local rebel militias.