Suicide drones struck Sudan's capital Khartoum, forcing airport closure amid escalating attacks

In western Omdurman, north of Khartoum, an eyewitness reported that drones struck a military base in the Al-Salha area early Wednesday. (Screengrab)

By XINHUA
Thursday, October 23, 2025

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Khartoum.

Suicide drones struck Khartoum International Airport and other areas of the Sudanese capital on Wednesday for the second consecutive day, marking a new escalation in attacks on the city.

"Six suicide drones targeted the vicinity of Khartoum Airport, but ground defences intercepted and shot them down," a military source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua, adding that the attack did not cause significant damage.

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In western Omdurman, north of Khartoum, an eyewitness reported that drones struck a military base in the Al-Salha area early Wednesday.

"At six o'clock in the morning (0300 GMT), we heard the sound of drones in the area, followed by loud explosions and flames rising near the military base in Al-Salha," the eyewitness said.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Khartoum.

"Our forces carried out a precise special operation in which drones successfully targeted sites and gatherings inside the perimeter of the General Command in Khartoum. The focused strike neutralised a number of officers present at the headquarters," said RSF field Commander Colonel Othman Jaafar in a post on social media platform X.

On Monday, Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority announced that Khartoum Airport would resume operations on Wednesday, but the latest security developments forced a delay.

Badr Airlines, a local carrier, cancelled what was set to be the first flight from Khartoum Airport since the civil war began in April 2023. The airline also announced the suspension of all scheduled flights on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The airline's online booking system showed that reservations would reopen starting October 26.

A source at Khartoum Airport told Xinhua, "The continued targeting of the airport for a second consecutive day prompted a thorough security review, which led to the decision to suspend flight operations until further notice."

In recent weeks, the RSF has intensified drone attacks on military positions and vital infrastructure in areas controlled by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

On Tuesday, Khartoum Airport was hit by five suicide drones, which caused minor damage to a civil defence facility within the airport and a passenger terminal, a source told Xinhua.

Meanwhile, areas in Sinnar and Blue Nile states also came under similar drone attacks Tuesday night, resulting in loud explosions and a widespread power outage across much of central and southern Sudan.

Multiple sources confirmed that the explosions occurred near the Sennar Dam and its hydropower station, while eyewitnesses reported a powerful blast near the Al-Roseires Dam, causing power outages that lasted for several hours.

Sudan remains gripped by a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023. The war has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions, plunging the country deeper into a humanitarian crisis.