Sudan's Paramilitary Forces Conduct Drone Strikes in Port Sudan
Authorities report a second drone attack targeting key infrastructure, marking a continued escalation in the two-year conflict.
Early on Tuesday morning, Sudan's paramilitary group launched drones targeting various key locations in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan, affecting the airport, the port, and a hotel, as reported by military officials.
This attack represents the second instance within the week of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) striking the city, which has become a refuge for those fleeing the ongoing war in Sudan.
While immediate reports of casualties or the extent of the damage remain unavailable, local media reported significant explosions and visible fires at both the port and the airport.
Eyewitness accounts describe plumes of thick black smoke rising from the affected areas, and footage shared online corroborates these reports.
The RSF's drone strike underscores the continued hostilities between the military and the RSF in the wake of two years of conflict, with both factions capable of striking at each other's strongholds.
According to two military officials who requested anonymity, the drones were deployed early in the morning, leading to disruptions in airport operations.
Flight data from Cairo airport indicated that three flights heading to Port Sudan were canceled due to the attack.
This incident follows a prior attack by the RSF on Sunday, which also targeted Port Sudan and interrupted air traffic.
That strike included damage to a military ammunition warehouse located at the Othman Daqna air base in the city, which resulted in a fire that continued for two days.
Initially, the violence that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 was concentrated in the capital, Khartoum, which has since evolved into a severe conflict zone.
Port Sudan, situated approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of Khartoum, developed into a temporary haven for many displaced individuals seeking refuge, with numerous humanitarian missions and UN agencies establishing their operations there.
The recent attacks are perceived as retaliation by the RSF following an earlier airstrike on the Nyala airport in South Darfur, a site that the RSF has used as a base for receiving arms shipments, including drones.
Since the conflict's onset, estimates indicate that at least 24,000 individuals have lost their lives, with the true toll likely being much higher.
The UN reports that the war has displaced around 13 million people, with approximately four million having sought refuge in neighboring nations.
The conflict has also led to severe humanitarian crises in certain regions, exacerbating famine conditions across parts of the country.
Reports from international rights organizations and the UN highlight that the ongoing conflict has been marked by significant human rights abuses, including mass violence, ethnic killings, and acts of sexual violence, which have been classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the western region of Darfur.
This attack represents the second instance within the week of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) striking the city, which has become a refuge for those fleeing the ongoing war in Sudan.
While immediate reports of casualties or the extent of the damage remain unavailable, local media reported significant explosions and visible fires at both the port and the airport.
Eyewitness accounts describe plumes of thick black smoke rising from the affected areas, and footage shared online corroborates these reports.
The RSF's drone strike underscores the continued hostilities between the military and the RSF in the wake of two years of conflict, with both factions capable of striking at each other's strongholds.
According to two military officials who requested anonymity, the drones were deployed early in the morning, leading to disruptions in airport operations.
Flight data from Cairo airport indicated that three flights heading to Port Sudan were canceled due to the attack.
This incident follows a prior attack by the RSF on Sunday, which also targeted Port Sudan and interrupted air traffic.
That strike included damage to a military ammunition warehouse located at the Othman Daqna air base in the city, which resulted in a fire that continued for two days.
Initially, the violence that erupted in Sudan in April 2023 was concentrated in the capital, Khartoum, which has since evolved into a severe conflict zone.
Port Sudan, situated approximately 800 kilometers (500 miles) east of Khartoum, developed into a temporary haven for many displaced individuals seeking refuge, with numerous humanitarian missions and UN agencies establishing their operations there.
The recent attacks are perceived as retaliation by the RSF following an earlier airstrike on the Nyala airport in South Darfur, a site that the RSF has used as a base for receiving arms shipments, including drones.
Since the conflict's onset, estimates indicate that at least 24,000 individuals have lost their lives, with the true toll likely being much higher.
The UN reports that the war has displaced around 13 million people, with approximately four million having sought refuge in neighboring nations.
The conflict has also led to severe humanitarian crises in certain regions, exacerbating famine conditions across parts of the country.
Reports from international rights organizations and the UN highlight that the ongoing conflict has been marked by significant human rights abuses, including mass violence, ethnic killings, and acts of sexual violence, which have been classified as war crimes and crimes against humanity, particularly in the western region of Darfur.
