Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conduct aerial assault close to Port Sudan airport: Military
In a shocking turn of events, the Sudanese army has accused the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of launching an aggressive attack on a military airbase and other facilities near Port Sudan airport. The unprovoked strike, as claimed by Nabil Abdullah, a spokesperson for the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), involved the use of suicide drones, marking a disturbing escalation in the conflict.
The targeted facilities include Osman Digna Air Base, a goods warehouse, and some civilian facilities. Regrettably, this attack has reportedly caused some damage, particularly at an ammunition depot, but thankfully there have been no reports of casualties at the moment. The RSF, however, has remained silent on the matter.
The attack has sent ripples across Sudan's capital, Khartoum, with Hiba Morgan, reporting for Al Jazeera, confirming that both the civilian and military airports in Port Sudan share the same location. The exact focus of the attack remains unclear, although it has resulted in the temporary suspension of flights to and from Port Sudan, the country's primary port of entry since the onset of the war in 2023.
A Sudanese passenger plane had to divert to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, due to the chaos at Port Sudan airport. The plane departed from Dubai International Airport but was compelled to alter its course and make an emergency landing in King Abdulaziz Airport in Jeddah. A nervous traveller, speaking to AFP from the airport, recounted their abrupt evacuation from the terminal.
The two-year war between the SAF, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF under Mohamed Hamdan "Hemedti" Dagalo, has plunged Sudan into a full-blown humanitarian crisis, causing the deaths of tens of thousands and displacing over 12 million people.
The United Nations has issued a grave warning, stating that hunger has reached catastrophic levels in 10 areas of the country, with 17 more at risk. More than half of Sudan's population—some 25 million people—now require humanitarian assistance and protection.
This latest attack appears to be a shift in the conflict, as the eastern regions, home to numerous displaced individuals, had previously remained untouched by bombardment. Intriguingly, Port Sudan, regarded as the safest place in Sudan due to its status as the administrative capital and the location of the country's primary airport, army headquarters, and seaport, has come under attack.
In March, the army managed to oust the RSF from its last strongholds in Khartoum, but the paramilitary group still holds some areas in Omdurman, across the Nile River, and has consolidated its position in western Sudan, effectively splitting the nation into rival zones. However, the RSF has been subtly inching closer to Khartoum, as evidenced by its shelling of the presidential palace last week, marking the second attack on the capital in less than a week.
In recent weeks, the RSF has also been increasing its grip on Darfur, in an attempt to seize the regional capital el-Fasher. Keep in mind that these are just brief insights into the complex and evolving situation in Sudan. For more detailed updates, consider signing up for Al Jazeera.
Breaking news: The escalating war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has expanded, with the RSF launching an attack on facilities in Port Sudan, including Osman Digna Air Base and a goods warehouse. This move follows the silence from the RSF on the matter and has triggered political concerns, as the attack marks a shift in the ongoing war-and-conflicts and has disrupted general-news operations with the temporary suspension of flights from Port Sudan airport.
