Explosions were heard overnight in Addis Ababa near Ethiopia’s military headquarters and in another part of the capital, according to residents and diplomatic sources. The blasts occurred hours after the national intelligence service imposed an indefinite ban on drone flights over the city, but officials had not confirmed what caused them.

One resident in the southern Gotera area, near the national intelligence service’s base, said a powerful explosion around 12:30 a.m. set off car alarms. Another resident reported a blast in Torhayloch, a western suburb close to the military headquarters. There were no official reports establishing the exact locations, damage or casualties. The prime minister’s office, defense ministry and federal and city police had not responded to requests for comment in the initial reporting.

A source linked to opposition fighters told Reuters that the group was responsible for drone strikes. That assertion remained unverified, and the available evidence did not identify the speaker or provide physical proof connecting the explosions to drones. The distinction is significant because the sounds were reported by multiple witnesses, while the claimed method and responsibility came from an interested party.

Ethiopia’s National Intelligence and Security Service had announced the drone restriction earlier on Wednesday. It said permits would not be issued for operations in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas and warned of legal action against unauthorized flights. The agency described the measure as necessary to protect national leaders, major events and critical infrastructure.

The incident came amid renewed fighting between federal forces and an alliance that includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Amhara militia known as Fano. The alliance had been announced the previous month with the stated objective of removing the federal government. Each side blamed the other for starting the latest combat, which followed months of tension over the implementation of the 2022 peace agreement that ended the Tigray war.

Reporting from the conflict areas remained severely constrained. Communications in and around Tigray were disrupted, and independent access was limited. Federal forces and a pro-government militia were reported to be advancing toward Mekelle, while fighting was also reported in Afar and around Lalibela in Amhara. Those developments heightened the security context around the capital without proving who caused the Addis Ababa explosions.

Ethiopia also announced the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and the expulsion of 10 Eritrean diplomats, accusing them of activities threatening national security. Eritrea denied Ethiopian allegations that it supported the new rebel alliance. The overlapping conflict and diplomatic crisis make attribution especially sensitive. Until authorities or independent investigators provide evidence, the Addis Ababa events are best described as reported explosions with an unverified claim of drone involvement.