Rebels from Ethiopia’s war-hit Tigray region on Thursday seized Lalibela, a Unesco World Heritage Site in the neighbouring Amhara region famed for its 12th-century rock-hewn churches, residents said.

The development came as a senior Amhara official said the rebels, known as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), were pushing “deep” into Amhara territory and hinted at possible retaliation.

“I believe now, enough is enough. Because the TPLF is no more in Tigray. TPLF is moving deep into Amhara territories,” said Amhara deputy president Fanta Mandefro.

“We need to defend our people,” he added.

The TPLF’s weeks-long push beyond Tigray has drawn criticism from world leaders and, according to Ethiopian officials, displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Tigray has been wracked by fighting since last November, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops to topple the TPLF, the regional ruling party which dominated national politics before Abiy took office in 2018.