Drones targeted Port Sudan on Tuesday, striking both the city’s airport and an army base, marking the third consecutive day the government-controlled city has been under attack. These strikes come as Sudan’s ongoing war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to escalate.
The country’s main fuel depot was hit on Monday, causing a large fire south of the city, which had until Sunday been a safe haven for thousands of displaced people fleeing the two-year conflict. Agence France-Presse reported loud explosions at dawn on Tuesday and heavy smoke rising from the port area and the fuel depot.
One drone struck the civilian section of Port Sudan airport, which had been attacked previously when the airport’s military base was hit. The military has blamed the RSF for the assault. All flights were grounded, halting operations at Sudan’s main international port of entry.
Another drone targeted the main army base in the city center, while witnesses also reported damage to a nearby hotel. Both locations are near the residence of Sudan’s army chief, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who has been engaged in a violent conflict with his former deputy, RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, since April 2023.
A third drone hit a fuel depot in the southern part of the city, near the densely populated center where many displaced people have sought refuge. Anti-aircraft fire was also reported in the northern part of the city.
The RSF has increasingly turned to drones for attacks, especially after losing territory, including nearly all of Khartoum, in March. The RSF has been using both makeshift and advanced drones, which the army accuses the United Arab Emirates of supplying.
The conflict, which has split the country into army-controlled and RSF-held regions, has caused tens of thousands of deaths, displaced millions, and created a severe food crisis. Nearly 25 million people in Sudan are facing dire food insecurity, and Port Sudan is crucial for delivering humanitarian aid.
On Monday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern over the attacks, which threaten civilians and humanitarian efforts. Humanitarian operations in Sudan are heavily reliant on Port Sudan, where most international aid arrives.
Meanwhile, the International Court of Justice dismissed a case brought by Sudan against the UAE, accusing it of complicity in genocide by supporting the RSF. Sudan’s foreign ministry said it respected the ruling, citing the ICJ’s lack of jurisdiction due to the UAE’s 2005 reservation on the UN genocide convention.
