Eritrea has vehemently denied the allegations, accusing Ethiopia of "floating false flags to justify the war that it has been itching to unleash for two long years." The Eritrean government's statement underscores the rapidly deteriorating relationship between the two countries, which share a history marked by both cooperation and conflict.

The current friction represents a significant shift from the tentative peace forged during the 2020-2022 civil war in northern Ethiopia, where Eritrean forces fought alongside the Ethiopian military against the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). That conflict, which drew international condemnation for alleged human rights abuses committed by all sides, saw a brief period of alliance between Ethiopia and Eritrea, driven by their mutual animosity toward the TPLF.

However, recent months have witnessed a growing war of words, primarily centered on Ethiopia's renewed push for access to the Red Sea. Landlocked Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has publicly stated the country's need for a port, raising concerns in Eritrea, which controls a significant portion of the coastline. These statements have been interpreted by some as a potential threat to Eritrea's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Fano militia, the alleged recipient of the Eritrean ammunition, is an Amhara ethnic group that has been engaged in an insurgency against the Ethiopian government. The Amhara region has experienced significant instability in recent years, fueled by grievances over land disputes and perceived marginalization by the central government. The Ethiopian government has been conducting military operations in Amhara to quell the rebellion.

The accusations and counter-accusations come at a time of heightened geopolitical sensitivity in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea recently withdrew from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), a regional bloc, further isolating the country and signaling a potential shift in its foreign policy. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, fearing a potential return to armed conflict between Ethiopia and Eritrea, which could further destabilize the already fragile region. The United Nations and various international organizations have called for de-escalation and dialogue to resolve the disputes peacefully.