Blasts were reported in Addis Ababa after Ethiopia banned drone flights, and Ethiopia ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and expelled Eritrean diplomats.

What it means

Explosions were reported in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa hours after the government banned drone flights, and Ethiopia ordered the closure of its embassy in Eritrea and expelled Eritrean diplomats. This marks a severe diplomatic escalation between the two neighbors, likely linked to the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia and tensions over the Tigray region. The drone ban suggests authorities feared aerial attacks, and the expulsion of diplomats signals a breakdown in bilateral relations.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is well-supported by multiple reputable news outlets (BBC, AP, Reuters, Al Jazeera) reporting the same sequence of events, all citing diplomatic and official sources. As a breaking news story with consistent cross-source reporting, the core facts are solid, though the precise cause of the blasts and full diplomatic context may still emerge.

How new

The events were reported on 1 October 2026, making this genuinely new and not a resurfacing of older material.

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