Khartoum: Sudan’s military reported intercepting drones aimed at a key naval facility in Port Sudan on Wednesday, as a wave of explosions echoed across the Red Sea city. The blasts rattled residents, though it remained unclear if the targeted Flamingo naval base was directly hit.
The escalation comes amid a string of attacks on Port Sudan in recent days, reportedly involving drone strikes carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These assaults have already set ablaze Sudan’s largest fuel depots and disrupted operations at the nation’s primary entry point for humanitarian aid.
Port Sudan had largely remained a safe haven since conflict erupted in April 2023 between Sudan’s army and the RSF. That relative calm has now been shattered. The war, rooted in a bitter power struggle, has unleashed widespread displacement, famine, and ethnic violence across the country.
Following the RSF’s initial advances through Khartoum in the early stages of the conflict, Port Sudan emerged as the administrative center for Sudan’s army-aligned government. With drone warfare becoming a growing feature of the conflict, the attacks on Port Sudan mark a significant expansion of hostilities into a previously stable area.
Also Read | Kyiv Attack Leaves Mother and Child Dead as Russia Targets Ukraine Cities
Military officials said the drone attacks signal a dangerous new phase, especially as the army has recently claimed gains in the capital and central regions. The resurgence of violence in Port Sudan risks undermining those advances and spreading instability further east.
Also Read | Second U.S. Fighter Jet Falls Into Red Sea from Truman Aircraft Carrier, Officials Say
Throughout the conflict, momentum has shifted repeatedly, with no clear path to victory for either side. The increasing use of drones has intensified the war’s unpredictability and lethality. Both factions continue to draw on international support, further complicating peace efforts.
