Drones struck military targets in the Sudanese capital and its airport on Thursday, according to witnesses, marking the third consecutive day of such assaults. Reports indicate that at approximately 4:00 a.m. local time, two drones were observed flying overhead, directed towards military installations. One witness specifically noted that the drones appeared to be heading for the airport, followed by audible explosions in the vicinity.
The airport, which has been non-operational for over two years, has faced repeated drone strikes attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). These attacks have occurred amidst ongoing clashes with the regular army since April 2023. Although the airport was scheduled to reopen on Wednesday, an airport official stated that this plan has been indefinitely postponed.
Since a protracted offensive earlier this year, the regular army managed to reclaim Khartoum from the RSF in March. However, the aftermath has left the city largely in ruins, plagued by frequent power outages and continued drone assaults.
Despite these challenges, over a million displaced individuals have reportedly returned to the city in the past ten months, according to the United Nations’ migration agency. The government has been attempting to restore essential services and relocate institutions back to Khartoum, after many had moved to Port Sudan, the de facto capital located on the Red Sea coast.
The conflict, now entering its third year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced approximately 12 million people, contributing to what has been described as one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
