A drone attack has struck an area close to Sudan’s main international airport in Khartoum, just one day before the facility was due to resume domestic flights for the first time since the war erupted in 2023.
Residents of the capital reported hearing multiple explosions in several neighborhoods early Tuesday morning. Social media footage circulating online appeared to show flashes and plumes of smoke rising from the city, although the videos have not yet been independently verified by The Africa Standard.
No casualties or damage have been officially confirmed, and no group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack.
The strike comes less than 24 hours after Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority announced that Khartoum International Airport would reopen on Wednesday following months of reconstruction.
Authorities had said the move was part of an effort to restore normalcy after the Sudanese army retook control of Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) earlier this year.
The airport, one of the first major facilities seized when the war broke out in April 2023, sustained severe damage during months of intense fighting between the army and the RSF.
Tuesday’s incident marks the third drone-related attack in Khartoum within a single week, highlighting the city’s fragile security situation despite the army’s declared victory.
According to the Sudan Tribune, a security source said anti-aircraft defenses intercepted several drones around 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT), preventing what could have been a more devastating assault.
However, the extent of damage from debris or potential secondary explosions remains unclear.
The drone strike underscores the growing use of aerial attacks in Sudan’s conflict, as both sides rely on long-range tactics to target key military and civilian infrastructure.
Port Sudan, which currently houses the country’s only operational international airport, has also been targeted by drones in recent months, though most flights continue to operate under heavy military protection.
Since retaking Khartoum in March, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have been working to restore critical infrastructure, including airports, bridges, and communication networks.
Despite these efforts, the RSF has continued launching sporadic attacks, many of them believed to originate from western and southern regions under its control.
The paramilitary group, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti,” has recently intensified operations in Darfur, particularly around the city of el-Fasher, the army’s last major stronghold in the west.
The ongoing conflict between the army and the RSF has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, creating what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.
Aid agencies report that entire neighborhoods in Khartoum remain in ruins, while food shortages, disease, and lack of medical care have pushed many Sudanese to the brink of starvation.
The country’s economy has collapsed, with inflation soaring and essential services such as power and water supply still disrupted in several regions.
Observers say the latest drone attack could delay the much-anticipated reopening of Khartoum International Airport, which was seen as a symbolic step toward national recovery.
Aviation authorities have yet to confirm whether the reopening will proceed as planned or be postponed amid security concerns.
The international community, including the African Union and the United Nations, has repeatedly urged both the SAF and RSF to agree to a lasting ceasefire, but peace talks remain stalled.
As Sudan struggles to rebuild, the latest escalation in Khartoum serves as a stark reminder that the war is far from over and that the road to stability remains long and uncertain.
