Sudanese Military Downs Drone Launched by Paramilitary Forces at Khartoum Airport
Airport officials say the drone was shot down before it could cause any damage or casualties in the latest attack on Sudan's capital.
A drone launched by Sudan’s paramilitary forces targeted Khartoum International Airport on Monday but was intercepted by the military before it could hit its intended target, according to airport officials.
This incident marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which is now in its fourth year and has pushed the nation to the brink of collapse.The attack occurred just days after paramilitary forces from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out a drone strike on Saturday that killed at least five people in a civilian vehicle on the outskirts of Khartoum.
The airport officials stated that the Monday incident involved a drone approaching from the south, which was successfully shot down by Sudan’s air defenses without causing any damage or casualties.
This event has been confirmed by the military government.Sources close to the situation reported to the Associated Press that the drone was launched from an unspecified neighboring country; however, further details have not been disclosed.
As a precautionary measure, flights at Khartoum International Airport were briefly suspended while authorities conducted routine checks.
The airport's recent reopening marks a significant step towards restoring normalcy in Khartoum, which has been severely affected by the ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF since April 2023.In February, the airport witnessed its first commercial flight landing since the start of the war.
Despite being a primary target due to its strategic significance, Khartoum has generally avoided attacks by the RSF since its recapture by the military last year.
Nevertheless, sporadic strikes have been observed in recent times.According to independent conflict-monitoring organization Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), the ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 59,000 fatalities.
However, aid agencies speculate that the true death toll could be significantly higher due to limited access to affected regions across the vast country.
The war has also displaced approximately 12 million people, as reported by the United Nations, and pushed certain areas of Sudan into famine.
This incident marks the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict in Sudan, which is now in its fourth year and has pushed the nation to the brink of collapse.The attack occurred just days after paramilitary forces from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out a drone strike on Saturday that killed at least five people in a civilian vehicle on the outskirts of Khartoum.
The airport officials stated that the Monday incident involved a drone approaching from the south, which was successfully shot down by Sudan’s air defenses without causing any damage or casualties.
This event has been confirmed by the military government.Sources close to the situation reported to the Associated Press that the drone was launched from an unspecified neighboring country; however, further details have not been disclosed.
As a precautionary measure, flights at Khartoum International Airport were briefly suspended while authorities conducted routine checks.
The airport's recent reopening marks a significant step towards restoring normalcy in Khartoum, which has been severely affected by the ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF since April 2023.In February, the airport witnessed its first commercial flight landing since the start of the war.
Despite being a primary target due to its strategic significance, Khartoum has generally avoided attacks by the RSF since its recapture by the military last year.
Nevertheless, sporadic strikes have been observed in recent times.According to independent conflict-monitoring organization Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), the ongoing conflict has resulted in at least 59,000 fatalities.
However, aid agencies speculate that the true death toll could be significantly higher due to limited access to affected regions across the vast country.
The war has also displaced approximately 12 million people, as reported by the United Nations, and pushed certain areas of Sudan into famine.
