The Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, came under attack by drones in the early hours of the morning, targeting the military command center. According to an anonymous security source in the capital, the attack occurred at around 6:00 am, with the drones being intercepted by the military's defense systems. The source described the attack as a "simultaneous terrorist attempt" using suicidal drones to target vital installations within the capital.
The drones targeted the main military command center in the "Tor Hayloch" area and the vicinity of the 24th Infantry Division headquarters in the "Kirkos" area of central Addis Ababa. A resident near the military command center reported hearing two explosions, one at 6:30 am and the other 45 minutes later, and seeing ambulances and fire trucks rushing to the scene.
The attack comes after the National Intelligence and Security Service announced a ban on the use of all types of drones in Addis Ababa and surrounding areas indefinitely, citing the deployment of anti-drone systems and specialized teams to protect the airspace and vital installations. This move followed a series of drone attacks on military installations, including the "Harar Meda" airbase, which killed two soldiers.
A military source in Tigray stated that the drone attacks on Ethiopian territory are aimed at disrupting the federal forces' ability to use airpower and drones in the conflict within Tigray. However, these attacks have not halted the advance of federal forces, which have been moving southward in Tigray towards the capital, Mekele, after capturing the city of Alamata.
The federal forces, along with their allies, captured Alamata on September 28, approximately 120 kilometers south of Mekele, after days of clashes. This development has made Alamata a key point for the northern advance. The military source noted that the battles in southern Tigray are now focused on the federal forces' attempt to open a direct route to Mekele.
In Mekele, a drone attack on the Tigray Television headquarters on September 27 led to a halt in live broadcasts. The city's communication networks were severed two days prior. A political source from the region stated that the disrupted communications and the targeting of the television station have severely limited the flow of information from Mekele.
The conflict has multiple fronts, with Tigrayan forces and their allies advancing in the Afar region after capturing "Eribiti" on September 27. They continue to move along a secondary road leading to the main Ethiopia-Djibouti highway near "Semera". This development is significant due to its connection to the "A1" highway, a critical route between Ethiopia and Djibouti.
Key points
- The conflict in Ethiopia involves multiple fronts, including drone attacks on federal territory and advances by federal and Tigrayan forces in various regions.
