Analysts have welcomed peace talks in South Africa between regional leaders of Ethiopia's Tigray region and the federal government but say both sides must get serious this time amid a war that has killed thousands.

Fighters in the northern Ethiopian region say forces from both countries have begun a "massive" attack on their positions. Fighting in the nearly two-year conflict resumed last week after a monthslong lull.

Security analysts say strong global action is needed after fighting resumed in northern Ethiopia between government forces and Tigray rebels — scuppering a truce and dimming hopes for peace.

Tigrayans are being targeted with ethnic cleansing in the contested Western Tigray zone, according to a new report by human rights groups. The onslaught of rape and killings amounts to "war crimes," they added.

Ethiopia's government has accused the head of the UN's health agency of interfering in its internal affairs. Separately, another UN body warned that the Tigray region is on "the edge of a major humanitarian disaster."

Tigrayan forces have claimed that dozens of civilians in a camp for internally displaced people were killed in a government airstrike — indicating conflict is still ongoing despite recent reconciliation efforts.

'One of the world's greatest humanitarian and human rights crises' is unfolding in Ethiopia, Laetitia Bader of Human Rights Watch warns in an interview with DW. Her organization and Amnesty International have confirmed reports of atrocities being committed in western Tigray.

After more than a year of war in Tigray, Ethiopia's ethnic divides now run deeper than ever. This will make it hard for the country to heal if peace ever comes.

Ethiopian authorities have closed all secondary schools so pupils can harvest crops for those on the frontline of the civil war, state-affiliated media says. ... More than 2 million pupils were already out of school due to the war which started in the northern region of Tigray last year, the government says.

African and Western nations have called for an urgent halt to fighting in Ethiopia as the conflict in Tigray marks one year. The US has sent a special envoy to the capital to push for cease-fire talks.

It has been a year since Ethoipian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed triggered a civil war by sending in troops to the northern region of Tigray after local TPLF forces seized military bases there. The country is still mired in conflict.

Nine factions opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have joined forces to seek a political transition. Ethiopia has been mired in violent conflict for over a year.