Chaos in Khartoum: Drone Strike Hits Before Airport Reopening

Drone Strike Hits Khartoum Ahead of Planned Airport Reopening

A drone attack struck an area near the international airport in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, just one day before domestic flights were scheduled to resume — marking the first such flights since the outbreak of war in 2023.

Residents across several districts of Khartoum reported hearing explosions early Tuesday morning. While images circulating on social media appear to show multiple blasts, their authenticity has not yet been independently verified. There are currently no confirmed reports of casualties or damage, and no group has claimed responsibility for the strike.

The attack comes shortly after Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority announced plans to reopen the airport on Wednesday. The move followed months of reconstruction efforts after government forces regained control of Khartoum from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The airport had suffered significant damage during the early stages of the conflict.

This incident marks the third strike in Khartoum within a single week. Previous attacks targeted two army bases in the city’s northwest on consecutive days. According to a security source, anti-aircraft defences intercepted several drones after 04:00 local time, though no further details on damage were disclosed.

Khartoum’s international airport had been closed since April 2023, when intense fighting broke out between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The RSF initially seized control of the airport during the early days of the conflict.

While Khartoum has remained relatively stable since being retaken by the army in March, attacks have persisted. The RSF is widely believed to be behind recent strikes on both civilian and military infrastructure, operating from a distance as part of its ongoing campaign.

With the loss of Khartoum, the RSF has shifted its focus to el-Fasher — the army’s last remaining stronghold in the western Darfur region. As the battle for control continues, the conflict has expanded beyond its original actors, drawing in other Sudanese armed groups and foreign interests.

Since the war began, tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced, plunging Sudan into what the United Nations has described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis.