Explosions were heard overnight in Addis Ababa after Ethiopia banned drone flights over the capital, as fighting between the army and a new alliance of armed groups continued in the north of the country.
Some of the blasts were reported in the western part of the city, in the area of military headquarters. Another explosion was reported in the south. There was no official confirmation of what caused the explosions, which sites were affected, or whether anyone was killed or injured.
A source linked to opposition fighters told Reuters that the group was responsible for what it described as drone strikes. The claim could not be independently confirmed.
One resident in a southern area near the base of the secret service said they heard an explosion at around 00:30 local time (21:30 GMT). The blast was heard in the Gotera neighbourhood, the resident said.
A resident of Torhayloch, a western suburb close to military headquarters, also reported hearing an explosion. The available accounts did not establish the precise locations of the blasts or the extent of any damage.
The incidents came hours after drone flights were banned over Addis Ababa. Authorities have issued no public account of the explosions or of the reported restrictions on drone activity.
Fighting erupted in northern Ethiopia a week before the explosions between the Ethiopian army and a newly launched alliance of armed groups. The alliance includes forces from the Tigray region.
The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, the defence ministry, federal police and Addis Ababa police did not respond to BBC requests for comment. Their silence left key questions unresolved, including whether drones were involved and whether military or civilian sites had been hit.
The explosions brought the conflict in the north into sharper proximity with the capital. For now, the reported strikes remain an opposition claim, while the cause of the blasts, any casualties and the scale of damage remain unknown.
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