Ethiopian military has 'completed and ceased' operations in Tigray

Nov. 28 (UPI) -- Ethiopia's military launched an assault in the capital of the Tigray region in the northern part of the country Saturday.

The country's army chief of staff said government forces have taken control of the city of Mekele, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed posted a statement to Twitter saying military operations against leaders of the Tigray People's Liberation Front had "completed and ceased."

The Ethiopian government has shut down communications and limited media access across the region, making it difficult to verify its claims.

Earlier this week the federal government issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the TPLF and warned that it would take "final action" to get control of Mekele.

That ultimatum followed three weeks of unrest, including accusations that federal forces have killed innocent civilians, that sent more than 40,000 civilians across the border to Sudan.