Tensions Escalate in Sudan as RSF Launches Drone Strikes Near Port Sudan Airport

Sudan’s fragile security situation took a dramatic turn on Sunday after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a drone attack on a military airbase and surrounding facilities near Port Sudan Airport — marking the first such assault in the eastern city since the conflict began.

According to Sudan’s army, the RSF targeted the area with at least five drones, hitting not only the military airbase but also a cargo warehouse and nearby civilian infrastructure.

Local residents confirmed the drone strikes and reported visible damage, including at an ammunition depot. So far, there have been no confirmed civilian casualties.

According to Al Jazeera, both civilian and military flights operate out of the same airport in Port Sudan. “It’s unclear whether the RSF intended to strike military assets specifically or whether the civilian airport facilities were also part of the plan,” she said. The attack followed an air force show held on Saturday, sparking speculation that a fighter jet on display may have been a target.

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The incident also caused flight disruptions. A Sudanese passenger plane en route from Dubai was forced to reroute after being unable to land at Port Sudan Airport. According to FlightRadar tracking data, the plane performed multiple loops over the Red Sea before making an emergency landing at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces have been locked in a violent power struggle since April 2023, plunging the country into chaos. The ongoing conflict has devastated Sudan’s infrastructure, displaced millions, and triggered widespread humanitarian suffering.

The drone strikes in Port Sudan represent a dangerous expansion of the battlefield, previously centered around Khartoum and western regions. As the war drags on, fears are growing that the conflict could spread even further and deepen the humanitarian crisis.