The conflict deepened in March 2012 , when Ethiopia launched an offensive into Eritrean-held territory . Three Eritrean military camps were attacked , and a number of people were killed or captured . Several weeks prior to the offensive , Ethiopia blamed Eritrea for supporting the Ethiopian rebels who had staged the Afar region tourist attack in northern Eithiopia , in which five Western tourists were killed . On 7September 2013 , two Ethiopian-supported Eritrean rebel groups RSADO and the Saho People 's Democratic Movement ( SPDM ) agreed to fight together against the Eritrean Government . In December 2013 the Ethiopian Army , crossed the border to attack some rebel camps in Eritrea
Afar region tourist attack
2012 Afar region tourist attack
Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict