A drone attack hit the area around Khartoum International Airport in Sudan early Tuesday, AFP reported citing witnesses.
The attack took place a day before a planned reopening of the airport for domestic flights for the first time since the war broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.
Residents reported hearing the sound of drones in central and southern Khartoum and sounds of explosions in the airport area early on Tuesday morning.
No side has claimed responsibility for the strike and there is no information on casualties or damage.
The Khartoum International Airport was set to reopen on Wednesday for domestic flights, the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority announced on Monday.
In March 2025, the SAF regained control over the Sudanese capital Khartoum, in a significant victory for the country’s army against the RSF. However, Khartoum has endured drone attacks, blamed on the RSF, with today’s strike marking the third in a week.
Since SAF recaptured Khartoum, the city has remained relatively calm, with the SAF-aligned government embarking on a large-scale reconstruction campaign. More than 800,000 people have returned to the capital, but millions still experience frequent blackouts linked to RSF drone activity.
In addition to Khartoum, the SAF controls the center, north and east of Sudan. Meanwhile, the RSF maintains control over almost all of the western Darfur region and parts of Kordofan. The paramilitary group has intensified its attacks on El-Fasher, the only state capital in Darfur not under their control.
The war in Sudan has killed tens of thousands and displaced nearly 12 million, triggering “the world’s most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis,” according to the UN.
