Blasts heard in Addis Ababa as Ethiopia conflict widens northward

Three diplomatic sources said explosions were heard overnight in Addis Ababa, after the capital had already imposed a ban on drone flying in the city and surrounding areas. A source linked to the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival said the coalition carried out several drone strikes in the capital, including some aimed near military headquarters. There has been no independent confirmation of the cause of the blasts, and officials have not publicly confirmed any damage or casualties.

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The reported strikes come as fighting in northern Ethiopia continues to intensify, with government forces said to be advancing toward Mekelle, the regional capital of Tigray. Reporting from Afar indicated federal troops had moved to within about 40 kilometres of the city, while Tigrayan forces were said to have pulled back to new positions. Electricity and internet services in the region have been cut, and thousands of civilians have reportedly fled Mekelle as the front line moved closer.

The alliance accused of carrying out the drone strikes brings together seven armed groups, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front and fighters from the Amhara, Afar, Somali and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. It says it is seeking to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. The federal government has accused neighbouring states of backing the coalition, which they deny, while authorities in Afar have renewed accusations of Eritrean involvement in the fighting there.

The claims remain unverified, but they underline how the conflict has widened beyond its original centres of violence. The developments matter because Addis Ababa is the seat of Ethiopia's federal government and its main security institutions, making any suspected attack there politically significant. Drone warfare has become a major feature of the conflict, and the reported ban over the capital suggests authorities were already trying to limit that threat.

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The fighting in the north also raises the risk of a broader regional confrontation, particularly if accusations involving Eritrea continue to escalate. What remains unclear is whether the overnight blasts were caused by drones, what if anything was hit, and whether there were any injuries. It is also not clear how far government forces have advanced around Mekelle, or whether the reported recapture of towns in Afar can be independently confirmed.

The next developments to watch are any official statements from Ethiopian authorities, further claims from the armed coalition, and whether the fighting spreads further beyond the north.

Explosions were heard overnight in Addis Ababa, with residents and diplomatic sources reporting blasts in more than one part of the Ethiopian capital. One of the reported explosions was in the west of the city, near the military headquarters, while another was heard in the south. The reports came hours after drone flights were banned over the capital, adding to security concerns in the city.

A source linked to opposition fighters said they were behind what they described as drone strikes, but there has been no official confirmation of the cause of the explosions. A resident in the southern Gotera neighbourhood, near the base of the secret service, said the blast was loud enough to set off car alarms. He said he heard it at about 00:30 local time, which is 21:30 GMT.

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Another resident in the western suburb of Torhayloch, close to the military headquarters, said he and friends heard an explosion while playing games. There were no official reports confirming the exact locations affected, whether there were casualties, or whether there was damage. The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the defence ministry, the federal police and the Addis Ababa police had not responded to requests for comment.

That leaves the scale of the incident unclear, even as the reports point to a possible security breach in a sensitive part of the capital. The blasts come a week after fighting erupted in northern Ethiopia between the army and a newly launched alliance of armed groups, including forces from the Tigray region. That wider conflict has raised concerns about spillover into other parts of the country, including the capital.

Addis Ababa is the seat of the federal government and key security institutions, so any attack or suspected attack there carries political and symbolic weight. The reported drone ban over Addis Ababa suggests authorities were already responding to heightened security risks. Drone use has become a significant factor in conflicts in the region, and any suggestion that such aircraft were involved in the capital would be closely watched.

The reports also highlight the challenge of verifying events quickly when official statements are limited and access to affected sites is restricted. What remains unclear is whether the explosions were caused by drones, what targets may have been hit, and whether there were any injuries or damage. It is also not known whether the reported blasts are directly linked to the fighting in the north or to another security development.

The next key step will be any official confirmation from Ethiopian authorities or further claims from armed groups involved in the wider conflict.

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