Overnight Blasts Rock Addis Ababa as Drone Flights Are Grounded and Conflict Spreads South

Residents of Ethiopia's capital reported hearing explosions during the night, with at least two blasts detected in separate parts of Addis Ababa, according to accounts given to the BBC and to diplomatic sources. One of the detonations occurred in the vicinity of the military headquarters in the western part of the city, while another was heard in a southern neighbourhood. The incidents mark a sharp escalation in a conflict that has, until now, been largely confined to the country's northern regions.

The explosions took place only hours after authorities imposed a ban on drone flights over the capital, a restriction that suggests the government was already bracing for the possibility of aerial attacks. The timing has raised questions about whether the prohibition was a precautionary measure or a response to specific intelligence warnings that hostile aircraft might be deployed against targets in and around Addis Ababa.

A source connected to the opposition fighters told the Reuters news agency that the armed coalition was responsible for what it described as drone strikes. If confirmed, this would represent the first time the newly formed alliance has demonstrated the capacity to reach the capital, a development that would fundamentally alter the security calculus for the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Witness accounts described the blasts as powerful. One resident in a southern district near the base of the secret service told BBC Amharic that the explosion was "very loud" and "strong enough to set off car alarms." He placed the timing of the blast in the Gotera neighbourhood at approximately 00:30 local time, which corresponds to 21:30 GMT. The force of the detonation, as described by residents, indicates that whatever caused it carried significant explosive power.

A second resident, who lives in the western suburb of Torhayloch, a neighbourhood close to the military headquarters, said he and his friends were playing games when they suddenly heard an explosion. His account, along with those of others in the area, contributed to the emerging picture of a coordinated or at least geographically dispersed attack rather than a single isolated incident.

Despite the widespread reports, no official confirmation has emerged regarding the cause of the explosions, the precise locations that were affected, or whether any people were killed or injured. There has also been no verified information about damage to buildings or infrastructure. The absence of official detail has left residents and observers to rely on witness testimony and unverified claims from the parties to the conflict.

The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the defence ministry, and both the federal and Addis Ababa police have not responded to requests for comment from the BBC. This silence is notable given the gravity of the events and the speed with which such incidents are typically addressed by government communications. It also means that no official account is available to counter or corroborate the claim of responsibility made by the opposition-linked source.

The blasts arrive exactly one week after fighting broke out in the north between the national army and a newly launched alliance of armed groups. That coalition includes forces from the Tigray region, which has been the centre of previous rounds of conflict. The formation of this alliance appears to have broadened the scope of the confrontation and introduced new operational possibilities for the armed opposition.

The security situation in Addis Ababa had already been a source of growing concern following the outbreak of hostilities last week. The deployment of drone-jamming or flight-restriction measures over the capital is unusual and points to a government assessment that the city could become a target. Such restrictions are typically imposed when authorities believe there is a credible threat from unmanned aerial systems.

The claim that opposition fighters carried out drone strikes, if accurate, would signal a significant leap in their military capabilities. Drones have become a defining feature of modern asymmetric warfare, allowing non-state actors to strike at distance with precision and relative deniability. For a coalition that has only recently come together, the ability to launch such attacks deep inside government-controlled territory would represent both a tactical success and a powerful propaganda message.

The targeting of areas near the military headquarters and the secret service base, if deliberate, would suggest an attempt to strike at the heart of the state's coercive apparatus. Such targets are symbolically and operationally significant. However, without independent verification, it remains unclear whether these locations were the intended objectives or whether the explosions occurred near them by chance.

The lack of casualty figures is a particular concern. In densely populated urban neighbourhoods, night-time explosions can cause significant harm even when aimed at specific facilities. Residents in Gotera and Torhayloch described being startled from their routines, with the blast in the south powerful enough to trigger car alarms. The psychological impact on a capital already anxious about the widening conflict is likely to be substantial.

Ethiopia has a recent history of devastating conflict, particularly in the Tigray region, where a brutal war displaced millions and left deep scars. The re-emergence of organised armed resistance, now in the form of a broader coalition, threatens to reopen those wounds and to draw new areas of the country into the fighting. The explosions in Addis Ababa suggest that the distance between the front lines and the capital may be shrinking.

Diplomatic sources confirmed to the BBC that they had received reports of the overnight blasts, adding an additional layer of credibility to the witness accounts. Diplomats in Addis Ababa are closely monitoring the situation, as foreign embassies and international organisations maintain significant presences in the city. Any further attacks could prompt discussions about the safety of diplomatic personnel and the potential for evacuations.

International observers will be watching closely to see whether the government acknowledges the incidents and how it responds. A military retaliation, further restrictions on civil liberties, or a renewed push against the armed coalition are all possible outcomes. The coming days are likely to determine whether the explosions represent a one-off attempt to demonstrate reach or the beginning of a sustained campaign against urban targets.

For ordinary residents of Addis Ababa, the immediate reality is uncertainty. Many went to sleep after a week of worrying news from the north and were awakened by explosions that officials have yet to explain. With no confirmed information on casualties, damage, or the identity of the attackers beyond a single claim of responsibility, the capital remains on edge, waiting for clarity that may not come quickly.