Blasts heard in Addis Ababa as Ethiopia conflict widens in the north

Government forces close in on Tigray’s capital and renewed accusations of Eritrean involvement.Published On 1 Oct 20261 Oct 2026Explosions have rung out in Addis Ababa as fighting between Ethiopia’s federal forces and a coalition of armed opposition groups widens in the country’s north.Three diplomatic sources told the Reuters news agency on Thursday that the blasts were heard overnight in the Ethiopian capital. The blasts came hours after Addis Ababa instituted a ban on drone-flying in the capital and surrounding areas.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3What’s triggered the latest violence in Ethiopia?list 2 of 3Young men flee Tigray amid fears of forced recruitmentlist 3 of 3Ethiopia’s army promises restraint amid fears of new civil warend of listA source linked to Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival told the agency the alliance had carried out several drone strikes in Addis Ababa, including some targeting the military’s headquarters.The alliance unites seven armed groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and groups from the Amhara, Afar, Somali and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. It says it wants to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s govern...