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IN PHOTOS: Sudan’s paramilitary strikes Port Sudan with drones targeting airport and seaport

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a drone assault on Port Sudan early Tuesday, targeting the airport, seaport, and a hotel, according to military officials. The attack marks the second time in a week the RSF has struck Port Sudan, previously considered a safe haven amidst the ongoing civil conflict. (PICS/AFP) 

Updated On: 2025-05-06 02:15 PM IST

Compiled by : Anisha Shrivastava

(PICS/AFP) 
Initial reports from local media confirmed explosions and fires across the city, with thick smoke observed rising from key areas. Military officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the use of drones in the operation but did not provide casualty figures or detailed assessments of damage.
Port Sudan serves as a temporary seat for Sudan’s military-aligned government and a vital logistical hub for aid and refugee movements. Residents reported being jolted awake by strong explosions; visuals circulated online showed fires still blazing late into Tuesday morning.
The attack disrupted air traffic, with at least three flights from Cairo to Port Sudan reportedly cancelled, according to Egyptian airport data. The RSF has not issued any official statement on the drone strike; similar silence followed Sunday’s initial strike on the city.
A major ammunition warehouse at the Othman Daqna airbase was hit in the previous attack, causing a fire that burned for nearly two days. Port Sudan, situated 800 kilometres east of Khartoum, became a sanctuary for displaced civilians and humanitarian operations following the war’s outbreak in 2023.

Analysts view the assault as retaliation for a recent Sudanese military strike on Nyala airport, an RSF stronghold and arms transit point in South Darfur. The ongoing war has killed over 24,000 people, displaced 13 million—including four million into neighbouring nations—and pushed parts of the country to the brink of famine, amid widespread atrocities and alleged war crimes.

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