DW Amharic - Drone attack on the Abay Gedame Asketes Abune Aregawi and Qidist Arsema Andinet Monastery
- AAA-admin
- Jul 25
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 27
Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
DW Amharic - Drone attack on the Abay Gedame Asketes Abune Aregawi and Qidist Arsema Andinet Monastery
Esayas Gelaw
July 23, 2026 (Hamle 16, 2018 EC)
On July 22, 2026 (Hamle 15, 2018 EC) a drone attack on the Abay Gedame Asketes Abune Aregawi Qidist Arsema Andinet Monastery located in Borena district of South Wollo Zone in Amhara Region left two monks killed and over 11 other monks with injuries ranging from minor to critical in severity, according to the monastery’s administrator and the district church official.
The July 22, 2026 (Hamle 15, 2018 EC) drone attack on the Abay Gedame Asketes Abune Aregawi Qidist Arsema Andinet Monastery, situated by the Abay River in Borena district of South Wollo Zone in Amhara Region, left two monks killed and over 11 other monks with injuries ranging from minor to critical in severity.
The attack occurred as the monks were preparing grain for the rainy season says Imahoy Welete Maryam who was present at the time. “They were gathered under a tree next to the compound collecting materials. I was also collecting with them when I separated from them to do other work in another section. Then I heard an explosion like sound which I could not discern. When I knew it struck them I ran over screaming and I saw four of them lying on the floor. When I tried to touch them they were already gone, they were all mothers. As they were bleeding there were young children running and crying. We dragged them to the side and tried to stop the bleeding…”
The Monastery’s father said the incident affected the nun’s quarters, and the drone attack resulted in casualties for 14 people said the monastery administrator Aba Elias Teshager.
“Two mothers lost their lives, one lost her life immediately on the spot, the other mother lost her life as we were transporting her to Mekane Selam Hospital, specifically when we passed Mekdela and reached the nearby Segno Gebeya area. There were six persons whose bodies were dismembered. Overall there were 14 casualties.”
Prior to the drone attack there was drone surveillance in the area said Aba Wolde Mikael, adding it may have been targeting militants operating a close distance away.
“The drone had circled between 9 and 10 am then went silent, and at around 10 am it caused the incident, meaning it dropped the weapon. This was at 10 am. The reasoning was unclear to me, whether they thought they targeted the Fano, but it circled around us. We do not know if it was supposed to target them. They operate in the nearby area however they do not operate within the monastery only outside. They have their own checkpoint; they operate within their checkpoint. When the drone attack occurred, they were by their checkpoint.”
The nun said the incident left numerous parts of the monastery compound with damages including the Bete Egziabher sector, adding the water supply used by worshippers was also damaged.
“The Tegbar Bet sector was entirely destroyed. Connected with the Tegbar Bet was where our annual supply of wheat was stored, which was entirely destroyed. The water tank was broken as shrapnel tore through it. There was a metal pipe which transported water from underground, however the entire tube was damaged.”
The Borena district church administrator Liq Kahnat Qesis Endale Semaneh said following the incident the district administration sent vehicles which made it possible to transport the wounded to hospital.
“There were two who sustained critical injuries, one of them was sent to the referral hospital in Dessie for emergency treatment. District authorities permitted the wounded to be sent to hospital, providing transportation on request, they said bring them for medical care, so we brought them in for medical care.”
Esayas Gelaw
Mantegaftot Sileshi
Negash Mehamed
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