By Getiye Yalew
Two nuns die and ten others sustain serious injuries in a drone strike on the Holy Arsema Females’ Monastery of Abay Gion, Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, in Western Wollo, Amhara Regional State, according to church sources and eyewitnesses.
“Ethiopian authorities deliberately target the monastery. We are not the first to face government-operated drone strikes. Authorities attack many other monasteries and churches,” one monk says.
The strike occurs on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, as the nuns prepare food for residents of the monastery in the Holy Kitchen.
The two deceased nuns, Emahoy Wolete Mariam and Emahoy Wolete Hana, receive burial at the Holy Arsema Monastery.
Eight injured nuns initially travel to the nearby town of Mekane Selam for medical treatment, while two others arrive later. All ten injured nuns receive medical care.
Eyewitnesses contacted by phone say most of the nuns who sustain head injuries from the drone-dropped bomb remain in critical condition. They say doctors indicate that some of the most seriously injured nuns have a low chance of survival. Several nuns with injuries to their arms and legs remain in more stable condition.
Medical personnel transfer some of the seriously injured nuns from Mekane Selam to Dessie Referral Hospital for specialized treatment, including neurosurgical care.
The ten nuns currently receiving medical treatment are:
1. Emahoy Ehte Mariam
2. Emahoy Wolete Selassie Kasse
3. Emahoy Esete Michael
4. Emahoy Wolete Mariam Kachew
5. Emahoy Amete Hana Mihret
6. Emahoy Wolete Tsadik Gebre Selassie
7. Emahoy Wolete Mariam Arsema
8. Emahoy Hamere Kidusan
9. Emahoy Wolete Mariam Gete
10. Emahoy Wolete Selassie Gebre Kidan
According to eyewitnesses, no fighting or other known military activity takes place in the area at the time of the drone strike.
The attack destroys a large section of the monastery.
The Holy Arsema Monastery stands in the arid Nile Valley, an area characterized by rugged terrain, high temperatures and limited vegetation. The difficult terrain makes travel and living conditions in the area challenging.
The monastery sits near a highway connecting Merto-Lemariam in Gojjam with Mekane-Selam in Wollo, Bete Amhara. The long Nile Bridge also stands in the surrounding area.
The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) remains the only force in the circumstances surrounding the incident with the known capability to conduct drone strikes. The Fano, an Amhara popular self-defense force, does not have that capability.
