Renewed conflict in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region has been accompanied by disturbing reports of forced recruitment by a new alliance of armed groups, including boys as young as 15. The fighting reignited on September 23 between Ethiopia's federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which governs the region. This resurgence shatters the fragile Pretoria peace agreement that was established in November 2022. The latest hostilities began following months of heightened tensions, with the TPLF launching an offensive it claims was in retaliation for federal government drone strikes. Eyewitnesses have described widespread forced recruitment efforts targeting men and boys aged 15 to 65 within Tigray. This new wave of conflict sees a significant shift in alliances, with the Eritrean Defence Forces and Amhara militias, previously implicated in war crimes during the 2020-22 conflict, now supporting the TPLF. Emerging testimonies from the war-torn region highlight forced recruitment, the use of child soldiers, and the threat of a new humanitarian crisis. One individual, identified as Gezu, 34, who previously fought with Tigrayan forces, recounted his reluctance to rejoin the conflict. After surviving the previous war, he had intended to start a family, but TPLF authorities contacted him to enlist. Gezu expressed his refusal to return to the battlefield, stating he would rather be killed than forced back into the conflict. Reports indicate that as authorities realized people were unwilling to join voluntarily and were fleeing towards the capital, they began rounding up individuals from the streets. This practice appears to be part of a broader mobilization effort to bolster the ranks of the armed groups involved in the renewed fighting. The TPLF has not yet officially commented on the allegations of forced recruitment. However, the reports raise serious concerns about the protection of civilians, particularly minors, in the escalating conflict. International organizations and humanitarian agencies are closely monitoring the situation, bracing for a potential escalation of the crisis. The renewed fighting and alleged recruitment practices threaten to exacerbate the already dire humanitarian conditions in Tigray, where millions have been displaced and suffered immense hardship. Further details regarding the extent of the forced recruitment and the specific groups involved are still emerging. The international community is likely to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for all parties to adhere to international humanitarian law, ensuring the protection of all civilians caught in the crossfire.