Sudan's war-torn capital is witnessing a surge of anxiety due to persistent drone attacks.
In the heart of Sudan, Port Sudan, the de-facto capital, has been engulfed in smoke from relentless attacks for two days straight. Tensions are mounting in this bustling city, home to thousands seeking refuge from two years of war between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
This latest strike on critical infrastructure in Port Sudan follows a series of suspected drone strikes targeting army-controlled territories throughout the country. To add to the chaos, a drone attack earlier on Sunday causes destruction to Port Sudan airport, specifically targeting a weapons depot near the military airbase. Flights were momentarily halted, affecting travel to the nation's only remaining international airport.
These recent drone attacks represent a significant intensification in the ongoing conflict and a potential turning point. In the wake of the Sudanese army regaining control of the capital, Khartoum, in late March, drone strikes have shown a concerning rise, with recent attacks even threatening safer areas such as Atbara, where a shelter was bombarded on April 25, claiming the lives of at least 12 civilians, including children.
The attacks on Port Sudan, marked as the RSF's first direct assault on the city, escalate the risks to government operations and vulnerable displaced populations. As a crucial base for relief efforts, these strikes have triggered panic and disrupted aid work for an already vulnerable population. Civilian infrastructure, including fuel depots and warehouses, is at risk of being compromised, potentially threatening essential services like energy supplies and humanitarian aid logistics.
With the conflict already causing millions to flee their homes and tens of thousands of casualties, the World Health Organization (WHO) has classified it as the world's largest humanitarian crisis. To make matters worse, the increased use of drones indicates a shift toward asymmetrical warfare, posing significant challenges for both military defenses and civilian protection. Sudan's Energy Minister condemned the strikes as systemic "terrorist acts" designed to cripple public services.
- The recent drone attack on a weapons depot near Port Sudan's military airbase, temporarily halting flights, suggests an escalation in the ongoing war between Sudan's military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), contributing to Sudan's general-news and crime-and-justice headlines.
- The escalation in Port Sudan, including paramilitary attacks on critical infrastructure, has raised concerns about the safety of government operations and vulnerable displaced populations.
- With the RSF's first direct assault on Port Sudan increasing risks for civilians, the city's crucial role as a base for relief efforts has been compromised, potentially triggering a suicide-related crisis among an already vulnerable population.
- The suspect drone strikes on Port Sudan and Atbara, claimed lives of civilians, including children, and have demonstrated a troubling rise in the conflict, highlighting the deteriorating politics within Sudan.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has designated the ongoing conflict in Sudan as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, and the increased use of drones in attacks on civilian infrastructure signals a dangerous shift towards asymmetrical warfare, posing challenges for military defenses, civilian protection, and the delivery of essential services like energy supplies and humanitarian aid logistics.
