Debretsion Gebremichael said in a message that the pilot “was on a mission to bomb”.

There was no immediate comment from the Ethiopian government or military. The government has previously said it only bombs military targets.

Claims from all sides have been difficult to verify as phone and internet links to Tigray have been down and access has been tightly controlled since fighting erupted on Nov. 4 between Ethiopian troops and the Tigrayan forces.