ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — A drone strike hit the historic Arsema Monastery in South Wollo, Amhara Region, during a time of worship on July 22, killing two nuns and six priests among the dead and injuring many others, according to International Christian Concern and multiple reports from the region.
The strike occurred amid the ongoing conflict between Ethiopian government forces and Fano fighters in the Amhara region. The government has alleged that Fano fighters were using the monastery as a hiding place. Reports also suggest that military operations in the area have involved tracking electronic signals, such as mobile phones, to identify suspected armed fighters — increasing the risk that civilians sheltering in the same locations are caught in the violence.
An Ethiopian pastor described the fear now spreading through Christian communities. “Our churches and monasteries have always been places where people come to seek God, pray, and find peace,” he said. “When a place of worship becomes a place of death, believers begin to ask where they can safely gather. Whether the target was armed fighters or not, the people who died were worshippers, priests, and nuns. Families have lost loved ones, and the church is mourning. Innocent people should never pay the price of war.”
The attack on Arsema Monastery fits a pattern of violence against Christian sites in Ethiopia’s civil conflicts, where ancient churches and monasteries — some dating back more than a millennium — have been damaged or destroyed. The Amhara region has seen sustained fighting since Ethiopian government forces launched operations against Fano militia groups. The pastor said the strike has left many believers afraid to attend services. “Many believers are living with fear, afraid to gather for worship,” he said. “Parents are asking themselves whether it is safe to take their children to church, because they worry that what happened at Arsema Monastery could happen elsewhere.”
Despite the killings, church leaders in Ethiopia have refused to abandon their congregations. “Our hope is not lost,” another church leader said. “Buildings can be destroyed, and lives can be taken, but our faith in Christ remains. We continue to pray for peace, justice, and reconciliation for our nation. Please remember us in your prayers as well. Pray not only for the families of those who were killed but also for peace in Ethiopia. We ask the global church to stand with us because our people are exhausted by violence.”
International Christian Concern, which monitors persecution of Christians worldwide, has called on the global church to support Ethiopian believers as the conflict in the Amhara region shows no sign of abating.