Senior Ethiopian military commanders have issued statements combining accusations against outside powers with open threats towards Ethiopia's neighbours.

The Chief of General Staff of the Ethiopian National Defence Force, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, accused foreign forces of supporting a newly formed coalition of armed and political groups as part of an effort to destabilise and weaken Ethiopia.

Describing the effort as the repackaging of a project that had previously relied on external backing, he said the security challenges Ethiopia now faces are part of a broader strategy by what he called historic and current adversaries who lack the capacity to mount a direct military invasion.

He went on to say that Shaebia and the TPLF are worth nothing together without orders from Sudan, Egypt and other forces, and are meaningless apart — a characterisation local reports described as setting aside the situation on the ground.

Separately, General Abebaw Tadesse, another senior commander, said Ethiopia is currently on the defensive and has not yet begun an offensive, but that on the day it does, it will make Mekelle its command centre and plant its flag on the Red Sea.