A drone attack has hit an area near the international airport in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, just one day before it was set to resume domestic flights for the first time since war broke out in 2023.
Residents reported hearing explosions across the city early on Tuesday morning, with unverified images circulating on social media showing the aftermath of the blasts. As of now, there are no confirmed reports about casualties or damage, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
On Monday, Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority made the announcement regarding the airport's reopening on Wednesday, following repairs after the army regained control of the city from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) months ago.
This drone strike is notable as it marks the third attack in Khartoum within a week, following assaults on two army bases in the northwest of the capital earlier last week. According to a security source cited by the Sudan Tribune, anti-aircraft defenses managed to intercept several drones shortly after 4:00 AM local time but details on damages remain sketchy.
The international airport had been closed since fighting erupted between the army and the RSF in April 2023, when the paramilitary group took control. Port Sudan, in the east, stands as the country's only functioning international airport but has also faced drone attacks.
Since the army reclaimed Khartoum, the city has seen relative calm, yet attacks continue, with accusations directed at the RSF for targeting both civilian and military infrastructure from a distance. The RSF is now intensifying efforts to seize the last army stronghold in the western Darfur region, el-Fasher.
The ongoing conflict in Sudan has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, with millions displaced, creating what the UN has described as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The clashes, which began as a power struggle between the army and RSF, have drawn in various armed groups and foreign backers.
