RSF drone attacks hit Khartoum Airport ahead of planned reopening
At least eight explosions were heard in and around the airport, whose reopening for domestic flights was scheduled for Wednesday, its first since the conflict between the RSF and Sudanese army began nearly 30 months ago.
The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched drone attacks on Khartoum on Tuesday, targeting the city's international airport and a nearby electricity converter station, local media reported.
According to witnesses cited by Rakoba News, at least eight explosions were heard in and around the airport, whose reopening for domestic flights was scheduled for Wednesday, its first since the conflict between the RSF and Sudanese army began nearly 30 months ago.
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Additional reports indicate that Sudanese army units intercepted several drones, but some managed to strike their targets, causing damage and panic in nearby neighbourhoods. Neither the RSF nor the Sudanese army has commented on the incident.
Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority had confirmed the resumption of flights on Monday after completing necessary technical and operational arrangements.
"The Civil Aviation Authority issued a notice announcing the resumption of domestic flights at Khartoum International Airport beginning Wednesday, Oct. 22, in accordance with approved operational procedures," Sudan's official news agency, SUNA, said then.
The attacks come months after the army regained control of Khartoum airport and surrounding districts in March, clearing the last RSF strongholds in the capital.
They also follow recent intelligence highlighting a surge in RSF's drone capabilities. Satellite imagery reviewed by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab in September showed at least 43 drones deployed at Nyala airport in South Darfur, a site that had none as of September 26.
The lab warned that the UAVs have a wide range and could strike anywhere in Sudan, posing a serious threat to civilians, infrastructure, and humanitarian operations.
Since April 2023, fighting between government forces and the RSF has left tens of thousands dead and displaced millions, creating one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. The United Nations (UN) estimates more than 20,000 deaths and 14 million people displaced, while independent research suggests the toll may be significantly higher.
The airport reopening had been seen as a critical milestone in efforts to restore normalcy, reconnect Sudan internally and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid, but analysts warn that the ongoing attacks could hinder progress, disrupt operations and intensify insecurity in Khartoum.
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