Recent Ethiopian drone strikes on Eritrean forces inside Tigray, following reports of Eritrean troop advances up to 60 km into the region in early October 2026, have intensified bilateral accusations of aggression and raised risks of direct interstate conflict. Ethiopia notified the UN Security Council of its self-defense measures against what it described as an invasion supporting rebel groups, while Eritrea rejected the claims, accused Ethiopia of declaring war, and requested UN deterrent action under Chapter VII. A closed-door Security Council session is scheduled for October 13. These verified military and diplomatic exchanges within the past week, amid ongoing Tigray fighting and severed ties, form the primary drivers of trader assessments regarding any Ethiopian targeting of Eritrean territory.