**The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces have extended their offensive to Port Sudan, marking a significant shift in the ongoing civil war, which has displaced millions and exacerbated the humanitarian crisis.**
**Paramilitary Drones Target Port Sudan for First Time Amid Ongoing Conflict**
**Paramilitary Drones Target Port Sudan for First Time Amid Ongoing Conflict**
**Rapid Support Forces launch missile attacks as Sudan spirals deeper into humanitarian crisis**
A drone strike on Sunday by the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted a military airport in Port Sudan, reported the Sudanese army. This incident represents the first assault on the city, which has been considered a safe haven during the ongoing civil war that erupted two years ago between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF.
According to army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah, the RSF deployed several "suicide drones" aimed at Osman Digna Air Base, a logistics hub, and civilian structures. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, although the attack led to "limited damage." The RSF has not made any public statements regarding the attack.
Sudan has descended into violence since April 2023 due to a power struggle ahead of a transition to civilian governance. An estimated 150,000 people have perished, with around 12 million displaced from their homes, as the United Nations labels this the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with over 30 million people needing assistance.
Up until this attack, Port Sudan had largely escaped violence, emerging as the de facto capital for the military-led government following the SAF's loss of Khartoum early in the conflict. UN agencies relocated their operations to the coastal city, which has seen an influx of civilians seeking refuge from the violence.
Eyewitness accounts detail harrowing experiences, with one traveler describing being evacuated in haste from the airport terminal. Social media footage, which has not been independently verified, purportedly shows explosions accompanied by thick smoke engulfing the airspace. As a precaution, the airport has since closed, and no flights are currently operating.
The conflict has fragmented Sudan’s territorial control, with the RSF, under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), asserting dominance in Darfur and southern regions, while the military administration governs parts of eastern and northern Sudan, including the pivotal Port Sudan.
Prior to the drone strikes, Port Sudan remained a relatively safe area amidst the chaos. The latest attack follows a trend of RSF assaults on military and civilian targets in SAF-held territories, including a strike reported in Kassala, situated 400km from RSF positions. While the SAF has reclaimed significant terrain, including the presidential palace, experts assert that neither party can feasibly establish a stable government over the entirety of Sudan.
This ongoing strife marks Sudan’s third civil war in the last seven decades and is viewed as the most devastating yet, deepening divisions within the country. The conflict traces back to a 2021 coup that placed a coalition of generals in power, with tensions regarding civilian governance sparking fierce clashes between the two factions vying for control.
Despite international mediation attempts, peace efforts have faltered, partly due to both rival groups receiving foreign military support, complicating the path to resolution.
