Sudan's war-torn capital plunged into a state of fear due to recent drone attacks
Smoke, Panic, and Drone Strikes in Port Sudan
A dense cloud of smoke has lingered over Port Sudan for two consecutive days, causing unease among its residents, who have sought sanctuary from the ongoing war between Sudan's army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This turbulent city, teeming with thousands of people seeking refuge, has become a new target in the escalating conflict.
The recent RSF attacks on critical infrastructure in Port Sudan are suspected to be another drone strike in a series of hits on army-held territories. On Sunday morning, Port Sudan airport had a run-in with suicide drones striking a weapons depot at the military airbase in the area. Flights were briefly halted at the only international airport still operational in the country.
The increased drone strikes represent a significant escalation in a war that has already caused the largest humanitarian crisis worldwide.
Revisiting Port Sudan's History of Conflict
Recent drone strikes in Port Sudan mark the latest chapter in this troubled city's history. Following the army's recapture of the capital city Khartoum in late March, RSF drone attacks against the city have seen a sharp increase.
One notable example occurred on 25 April, when an RSF drone dropped bombs on a displacement shelter in Atbara, killing at least 12 civilians, including children.
Understanding the intensified RSF Drone Strikes
The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF has been ongoing for nearly two years. Incorporating drone technology into their methods of warfare, the RSF has launched a series of attacks aimed at achieving tactical advantages, escalating the conflict, and exploiting vulnerabilities in their asymmetric warfare tactics.
The RSF's focus on drone strikes can be attributed to various factors:
- Tactical advantages: The use of drones allows the RSF to hit enemy targets with less risk to their troops, preserving manpower in a prolonged conflict.
- Escalation and Retaliation: The increasingly violent nature of the conflict has led both sides to seek swift and targeted reprisals following losses in men and resources.
- Asymmetric Warfare: Faced with a conventional military force, the RSF employs drones as part of their asymmetric warfare strategy, seeking to disrupt enemy operations and create confusion.
- Loss of Territorial Control: As the SAF regains control of strategic areas, the RSF may turn to drone attacks to maintain influence in contested regions.
- International Involvement and Supply Chains: External support or access to drone technology could contribute to the increase in drone attacks, although specific details about the RSF's drone supply chains are not widely reported.
In conclusion, the RSF's shift toward using drone strikes more frequently can be attributed to a combination of strategic necessity, escalation in the conflict, and the tactical advantages drones offer in asymmetric warfare.
- The escalating conflict in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has seen a rise in RSF drone attacks, particularly in Port Sudan, which recently witnessed a series of drone strikes on critical infrastructure.
- These drone strikes temporarily halted flights at Port Sudan airport, adding to the war's significant impact on Sudan's war-and-conflicts politics and general news.
- With the RSF focusing on drone technology as part of their asymmetric warfare strategy, they have escalated the violence, aiming to retain influence in contested regions while seeking tactical advantages and retaliating against losses.
- The increased use of drone strikes reflects a strategic shift driven by the RSF's need to minimize risks to their troops and exploit vulnerabilities, contributing to Sudan's ongoing war crisis being the largest humanitarian crisis globally.
- Though the specific details about the RSF's drone supply chains are not widely reported, external support could play a part in the intensified RSF drone strikes, exacerbating the already volatile war-and-conflicts situation in Sudan.
