ADDIS ABABA, Reuters – An Ethiopian government strike on Friday targeted a Tigray Regional Capital University, rebellious Tigrayan forces said. Humanitarian sources also reported that thousands fled the fighting south.

According to the government, the strike was against a military base that had been used for years by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. (TPLF) is the current ruler of the region. Legesse Tulu, a spokesperson for the government said that no university had been hit.

Friday marked the fourth consecutive day of aerial government bombardments of Mekelle. The government is trying to reclaim the territory seized in recent months by the TPLF, and these bombardments are coming as violence escalates in neighboring Amhara.

The almost yearlong conflict that erupted between the government of Ethiopia and the TPLF forces has resulted in thousands of deaths and displacements.

Reuters was told by Getachew Reda (a spokesperson for the TPLF) that the strike hit Mekelle University’s compound. He denied that he knew of any casualties.

Three Ethiopian humanitarian sources, citing information from Mekelle residents also informed Reuters that Mekelle University was the victim of the strike.

Tigrai TV is controlled by TPLF and reported that the strike struck the main campus at the university. 11 civilians were also injured.

Sources from humanitarian organizations said that a U.N. flight had been delayed in Mekelle due to an air strike. Legesse stated that he did not have any information.

On Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week, government forces struck targets at Mekelle.

THOUSANDS FIGHT

This campaign in the sky is part of a government effort to weaken the TPLF. The Ethiopian military began a ground offensive last week to push TPLF fighters away from the territory it seized in July. From the start of war, Amharan forces fought alongside military personnel against the TPLF.

Humanitarian sources and local officials stated that thousands fled eastern Amhara because of the new fighting.

Dessie, a major city, told Reuters Friday that panic is spreading following the statement by the TPLF spokesperson a day prior that said its forces were in artillery range.

A resident claimed that he heard heavy gunfire Thursday night into Friday morning. He also said that the cost of a bus to Addis Ababa (about 385km (240 miles) south), had more than tripled this week. The whole of the city panicked, he stated. He also said that anyone who was able to flee were doing so.

Seid Alsefa is a local official at the center for displaced people. “We have now 900 (displaced) people here, and we completed our food supplies three days back.”

Leul Mesfin (medical director at Dessie Hospital) said to Reuters that three people, including two girls and an adult, died from artillery injuries this week. They were taken from Wuchale where there had been heavy fighting in the last week according to the TPLF.