A drone strike hit the Port Sudan airport on Sunday, marking a significant escalation in the ongoing power struggle between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The attack, which occurred in the early hours of the day, caused limited damage but no reported casualties, according to an airport official who spoke to AFP.
The army-aligned government currently operating out of Port Sudan, a strategic coastal city on the Red Sea, confirmed the strike. Army spokesman Nabil Abdullah stated that the RSF launched several “suicide drones” targeting not only the airport but also a goods warehouse and other civilian facilities within the city.
“Fortunately, there were no injuries, but the attack resulted in limited material damage,” Abdullah said, underscoring the growing threat posed by drone warfare in the Sudanese conflict.
This is one of the most direct assaults on Port Sudan since the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and RSF broke out in April 2023. The city, previously considered a relative safe haven and administrative center for the SAF government, has remained largely untouched by the fighting that has devastated much of Khartoum and western Sudan.
Observers fear that the RSF’s use of drones could signify a new phase in the conflict, bringing violence closer to areas that have until now been spared from direct confrontation. The use of drone technology also points to increased sophistication and potential foreign backing in the RSF’s military tactics.
The civil war, now in its second year, has plunged Sudan into a deep humanitarian crisis, displacing millions and leaving vast swathes of the country without access to essential services. Port Sudan has served as a critical logistical and humanitarian hub, receiving aid and serving as the de facto capital for the military-aligned administration.
With Sunday’s attack, tensions are expected to rise further, raising concerns among international observers and humanitarian agencies about the safety of operations in the region.
Efforts at peace talks have repeatedly faltered, and the latest drone strike is likely to complicate negotiations even further as both sides continue to vie for territorial and political dominance.
