Sudan’s Port city under siege: Drone strikes enter third day

On Tuesday May 6, 2025, drone strikes hit the airport and an army base in Port Sudan, marking the third consecutive day that the city, now the government’s administrative hub, has faced attacks.

Officials confirmed the strikes, which come amid ongoing conflict between Sudan’s army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

A day earlier, on Monday, the country’s largest fuel depot was bombed, triggering a massive fire just south of Port Sudan.

Until recently, this city on the Red Sea was seen as a haven for hundreds of thousands of civilians fleeing the civil war, which has dragged on for over two years.

According to a reporter from Agence France-Presse (AFP), loud blasts echoed across Port Sudan at dawn on Tuesday, with thick columns of smoke visible in several areas.

One cloud rose from near the port itself, and another was seen rising from the southern part of the city, where the fuel depot was located.

An official at Port Sudan Airport stated that a drone had hit the airport’s civilian section.

This strike occurred just two days after drones had previously targeted the airport’s military base.

The army has blamed the RSF for both incidents.

Following the latest strike, all flights were halted at what is Sudan’s main international gateway.

Another drone strike was aimed at the city’s central army base, an army source reported. Nearby, witnesses said a hotel sustained damage as well.

These sites are close to the residence of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the leader of the Sudanese army.

He has been engaged in a brutal conflict with Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, his former deputy and now the commander of the RSF, since April 2023.

A third drone struck another fuel depot in the southern part of the city center.

This area is densely populated and now houses numerous displaced people.

The area also has the United Nations and various humanitarian agencies that moved there from Khartoum.

Eyewitnesses in the northern districts of Port Sudan reported hearing anti-aircraft fire coming from a military base.

The RSF has increasingly deployed drones in recent months, especially since losing control of almost all of Khartoum in March.

The group has since launched drone attacks deep into army-controlled areas, signaling a strategic shift in their tactics.

The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern on Monday about the RSF’s ongoing attacks in Port Sudan, describing them as a serious threat to civilian safety and aid efforts.

Port Sudan plays a critical role in the country’s humanitarian lifeline, as nearly all international aid passes through this port.

With famine declared and nearly 25 million Sudanese facing extreme food insecurity, the recent strikes could severely disrupt humanitarian operations.

A traveler at the airport told AFP that several fires broke out across buildings there after Tuesday’s blast.

The army added that fuel storage facilities at the airport were also hit, further compounding the damage.

In recent weeks, the RSF has focused on sabotaging civilian infrastructure in the northeast, which is controlled by the army.

These attacks have led to widespread power outages, affecting millions.

The ongoing war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced 13 million people, creating what is now the largest hunger and displacement crisis globally.

The conflict has effectively divided Sudan: the army holds the north, east, and central regions, while the RSF dominates Darfur and parts of the south, often in alliance with other groups.

Military experts say the RSF’s reliance on drone warfare, using both improvised and sophisticated drones, has extended their operational range and disrupted army supply routes.

The army accuses the United Arab Emirates of supplying these drones to the RSF, although the UAE denies involvement.

In a related legal development, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday dismissed a case Sudan filed against the UAE, accusing it of enabling genocide by backing the RSF.

The ICJ ruled that it lacked jurisdiction, citing a 2005 exemption the UAE had made regarding the UN genocide convention.

On Tuesday, Sudan’s foreign ministry stated it accepted the court’s decision.

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