{
  "id": 11378984,
  "title": "Blasts heard in Addis Ababa as Ethiopia conflict widens",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/blasts-heard-in-addis-ababa-as-ethiopia-conflict-widens",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-02T06:46:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Ghanaian Times",
    "slug": "ghanaian-times",
    "url": "https://ghanaiantimes.com.gh/blasts-heard-in-addis-ababa-as-ethiopia-conflict-widens/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Recent explosions were heard in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa as conflict intensified between the country's federal forces and a coalition of armed opposition groups expanding in the nation's northern territories. Diplomatic sources confirmed three blasts were audible overnight in Addis Ababa, following the city's establishment of a drone flying ban in its vicinity. The alliance linked to Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival claimed responsibility for several drone strikes in Addis Ababa, targeting military headquarters among other locations. This alliance consists of seven armed groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and factions from the Amhara, Afar, Somali and Benishangul-Gumuz regions, all aiming to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration. Government forces have recently advanced into Tigray, nearing the regional capital of Mekelle, while the TPLF has retreated to new positions, with some of its leaders relocating away from Mekelle. Thousands of civilians have also fled the city in fear of clashes, cutting off electricity and internet services in the area. Last week, Tigrayan forces launched a large offensive, dubbed a \"defensive war\" against federal drone and artillery strikes. Government troops and allied fighters have initiated a counteroffensive. The Ethiopian government has accused neighboring countries of supporting the opposition coalition, a denial by the coalition. In Afar, government forces have reportedly recaptured the towns of Erebti and Abaala near the Tigray border, though these claims remain unverified. Muhammed Taha Tawakel, an Al Jazeera correspondent from Afar, reported that fighting to control these towns is ongoing and could potentially escalate the conflict, threatening a wider war involving Ethiopia and Eritrea and disrupting food security in the region.",
  "summary": "Explosions 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 … The post Blasts heard in Addis Ababa as Ethiopia…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Maverick",
        "title": "Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia after Addis Ababa orders closure of embassy in Asmara",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/eritrea-severs-diplomatic-ties-with-ethiopia-after-addis-ababa-orders",
        "published": "2026-10-02T03:12:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Ethiopia and Eritrea sever diplomatic ties as northern fighting escalates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/ethiopia-and-eritrea-sever-diplomatic-ties-as-northern-fighting",
        "published": "2026-10-02T03:49:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Eritrea severs diplomatic ties with Ethiopia in row over Tigray",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/eritrea-severs-diplomatic-ties-with-ethiopia-in-row-over-tigray",
        "published": "2026-10-02T04:40:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al-Monitor",
        "title": "Eritrea cuts ties with Ethiopia over Asmara embassy closure",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/eritrea-cuts-ties-with-ethiopia-over-asmara-embassy-closure",
        "published": "2026-10-02T04:46:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "African Union urges Ethiopia, Eritrea, Egypt to exercise restraint as regional escalation continues",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/african-union-urges-ethiopia-eritrea-egypt-to-exercise-restraint-as",
        "published": "2026-10-02T05:34:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC World",
        "title": "Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/ethiopia-and-eritrea-cut-diplomatic-ties-as-northern-conflict",
        "published": "2026-10-02T05:42:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "KBC",
        "title": "Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/ethiopia-and-eritrea-cut-diplomatic-ties-as-northern-conflict-11371065",
        "published": "2026-10-02T05:56:24.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Capital FM Kenya",
        "title": "Ethiopia and Eritrea cut diplomatic ties as northern conflict escalates",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/02/ethiopia-and-eritrea-cut-diplomatic-ties-as-northern-conflict-11378649",
        "published": "2026-10-02T06:19:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}