Drone Strikes Target Port Sudan Airport and Army Base Amid Ongoing Conflict
Intensifying violence in Port Sudan marks the third consecutive day of drone attacks in the region, with significant implications for humanitarian efforts.
Drones have struck both the airport and an army base in Port Sudan, as reported by local officials, marking the third consecutive day that this strategic location has faced aerial attacks.
Previously considered a refuge for displaced persons fleeing a prolonged two-year conflict in Sudan, Port Sudan has now become a target in the ongoing hostilities.
On Monday, the major fuel depot located just south of the city was hit, resulting in a large fire.
Eyewitness accounts reported hearing loud explosions as plumes of smoke were seen rising over the coastal city on Tuesday morning, with at least one drone strike aimed at the civilian side of the Port Sudan airport.
This came two days following an attack on the military section of the airport, attributed to the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), by the Sudanese army.
Consequently, all flights were suspended at Sudan's primary international entry point.
In addition to the airport strikes, a drone also targeted the central army base of the city, with reports indicating that a nearby hotel sustained damage.
Both of these sites are situated close to the residence of Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who has been at odds with his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, since the onset of hostilities in April 2023.
A separate drone strike hit a fuel depot within the densely populated city center, an area that has increasingly become a refuge for civilians and humanitarian organizations relocating from Khartoum.
Eyewitnesses reported anti-aircraft fire emanating from a military base in the northern part of the city.
The RSF has significantly escalated its use of drones since losing control of much of Khartoum in March, conducting attacks deep within territory held by the army.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the developments, describing the recent paramilitary assaults as troubling for the safety of civilians and humanitarian operations in the region.
Nearly all humanitarian assistance entering Sudan, where reports of famine have surfaced and approximately 25 million people are facing severe food insecurity, passes through Port Sudan.
Following the recent attack, fires ignited across multiple buildings at the airport, which had just resumed operations after previous strikes.
The Sudanese army confirmed that the drone attacks had also targeted fuel depots at the airport.
In recent weeks, the RSF’s offensive on civilian infrastructure within the northeast, controlled by the army, has contributed to widespread power outages affecting millions.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities and displaced around 13 million individuals, exacerbating one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
It has effectively divided the country, with the army retaining control over the central, northern, and eastern regions, while the RSF maintains a strong presence in the Darfur region and parts of the south.
Experts note that the RSF's enhanced capability to conduct drone warfare has highlighted its operational reach and complicated the Sudanese army's logistics.
Some drones attributed to the RSF are said to be of advanced design, a point of contention, as the army has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying such technology.
On Monday, the International Court of Justice dismissed a case brought by Sudan against the UAE, which accused it of aiding in acts of genocide through support of the RSF.
In response to the ruling, Sudan's foreign ministry stated it accepted the decision, referencing the court's lack of jurisdiction due to the UAE's prior reservations on the UN convention related to genocide.
Previously considered a refuge for displaced persons fleeing a prolonged two-year conflict in Sudan, Port Sudan has now become a target in the ongoing hostilities.
On Monday, the major fuel depot located just south of the city was hit, resulting in a large fire.
Eyewitness accounts reported hearing loud explosions as plumes of smoke were seen rising over the coastal city on Tuesday morning, with at least one drone strike aimed at the civilian side of the Port Sudan airport.
This came two days following an attack on the military section of the airport, attributed to the paramilitary group, Rapid Support Forces (RSF), by the Sudanese army.
Consequently, all flights were suspended at Sudan's primary international entry point.
In addition to the airport strikes, a drone also targeted the central army base of the city, with reports indicating that a nearby hotel sustained damage.
Both of these sites are situated close to the residence of Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who has been at odds with his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, since the onset of hostilities in April 2023.
A separate drone strike hit a fuel depot within the densely populated city center, an area that has increasingly become a refuge for civilians and humanitarian organizations relocating from Khartoum.
Eyewitnesses reported anti-aircraft fire emanating from a military base in the northern part of the city.
The RSF has significantly escalated its use of drones since losing control of much of Khartoum in March, conducting attacks deep within territory held by the army.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the developments, describing the recent paramilitary assaults as troubling for the safety of civilians and humanitarian operations in the region.
Nearly all humanitarian assistance entering Sudan, where reports of famine have surfaced and approximately 25 million people are facing severe food insecurity, passes through Port Sudan.
Following the recent attack, fires ignited across multiple buildings at the airport, which had just resumed operations after previous strikes.
The Sudanese army confirmed that the drone attacks had also targeted fuel depots at the airport.
In recent weeks, the RSF’s offensive on civilian infrastructure within the northeast, controlled by the army, has contributed to widespread power outages affecting millions.
The ongoing conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of fatalities and displaced around 13 million individuals, exacerbating one of the world's largest humanitarian crises.
It has effectively divided the country, with the army retaining control over the central, northern, and eastern regions, while the RSF maintains a strong presence in the Darfur region and parts of the south.
Experts note that the RSF's enhanced capability to conduct drone warfare has highlighted its operational reach and complicated the Sudanese army's logistics.
Some drones attributed to the RSF are said to be of advanced design, a point of contention, as the army has accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying such technology.
On Monday, the International Court of Justice dismissed a case brought by Sudan against the UAE, which accused it of aiding in acts of genocide through support of the RSF.
In response to the ruling, Sudan's foreign ministry stated it accepted the decision, referencing the court's lack of jurisdiction due to the UAE's prior reservations on the UN convention related to genocide.
