India, Oct. 15 -- NAIROBI - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called for urgent de-escalation in the Horn of Africa on Wednesday after renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region drove civilians from their homes, shut down health facilities and drew what Washington said could not be tolerated: yet more conflict in one of Africa's most battered corners.

Rubio spoke by phone with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday, urging dialogue under a peace deal agreed between Ethiopia and Eritrea in 2018. He said the region could not tolerate more conflict, according to a statement from the State Department.

Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region in recent weeks has effectively shattered a 2022 peace agreement t...