Sudan is witnessing a surge in drone attacks targeting Khartoum and several other cities amid ongoing clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
According to a Sudanese military source, air and ground defenses successfully intercepted more than 35 drones on Wednesday alone. These unmanned aerial vehicles were reportedly launched by the RSF and targeted locations including Atbara, Al-Damar, and El Obeid.
The drone assaults continued into Thursday, striking the capital Khartoum, as well as El Obeid (North Kordofan), Kadugli (South Kordofan), and parts of River Nile State such as Atbara and Al-Damar. Military defenses managed to shoot down additional drones, preventing damage to key sites.
Eyewitnesses in cities like Omdurman and Kadugli reported hearing loud explosions and seeing smoke as air defenses engaged incoming drones. The expanding reach of drone warfare has extended to areas far from active front lines, highlighting the conflict’s growing geographical scope.
Ongoing Ground Clashes and Displacement
Fighting remains intense on multiple fronts, particularly in North Kordofan and Blue Nile states. The SAF recently repelled a major RSF offensive involving over 250 combat vehicles near Jabrat Al-Sheikh in North Kordofan, forcing RSF forces to retreat toward Darfur.
In Blue Nile’s Geisan locality, RSF and allied forces launched attacks during the critical agricultural season. Local authorities have condemned the offensive as a "full-fledged war crime." The violence has displaced approximately 2,500 people, many of whom have fled to Ethiopia.
Conflict Background
The armed confrontation between the Sudanese army and the RSF began in April 2023, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths and displacing millions within Sudan and beyond.
