Drone strikes are suspected to have caused explosions at the Ethiopian army headquarters in Addis Ababa, a diplomatic source revealed on Friday. The incident occurred as the conflict with rebels triggered a breakdown in Ethiopia's relations with Eritrea and Egypt. The fighting started last week in northern Ethiopia as the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) launched attacks against federal forces.
The conflict has led to a significant escalation in tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with the two countries breaking diplomatic relations on Thursday. Ethiopia expelled 10 Eritrean diplomats and shut its embassy in Asmara, while Eritrea responded by severing all diplomatic ties. Additionally, Ethiopia expelled an Egyptian diplomat without explanation, prompting a reciprocal move by Cairo.
The TPLF's leader, Debretsion Gebremichael, stated in a video published late Thursday that "the war is regional and it is a war to control the Red Sea". The African Union, based in Ethiopia, expressed concern over the heightened tensions between Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt, urging "maximum restraint". The situation remains volatile, with fears of a return to the devastating 2020-2022 civil war.
On the frontlines in northern Ethiopia, there were signs that the Tigrayan rebels were being pushed back on Thursday. A humanitarian source reported that the TPLF had been dislodged from the town of Erebti in Afar, which it seized earlier in the week, and was now fighting near the mountainous border between Afar and Tigray.
For the first time, the conflict appeared to reach the capital overnight Wednesday-Thursday when an explosion was reported at the Ministry of Defence, which houses the headquarters of the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF). A diplomatic source based in the city told AFP that drone strikes were the "most likely" cause, though independent confirmation was not available.
The devices used were likely FPV (First-Person View) drones, described as "essentially militarised commercial drones fitted with an explosive charge". Rebel forces have deployed these drones against airbases and airports elsewhere in the country, including three attacks last Sunday in Oromia and Amhara states, according to conflict monitor ACLED.
The government and army have refused to comment on the strikes in the capital, which were also reported by residents and workers near the army headquarters in the Tor Hayloch area of Addis Ababa. The Critical Threats Project, part of the American Enterprise Institute think tank, said rebel forces had "launched a drone strike campaign across Ethiopia", including Addis Ababa, to demonstrate "its ability to expand the conflict across the country".
Key points
- Drone strikes likely caused explosions at Ethiopia's army headquarters in Addis Ababa.
- The conflict has triggered a breakdown in Ethiopia's relations with Eritrea and Egypt.
- The situation remains volatile, with fears of a return to the devastating 2020-2022 civil war.
