Explosions Rock Port Sudan as RSF Drone Strikes Escalate Conflict

Multiple explosions and a massive fire erupted in Port Sudan on Tuesday as drone strikes targeted key infrastructure in the previously safe Red Sea city, marking a dangerous escalation in Sudan’s civil war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as per Al Jazeera.

Dark plumes of smoke were seen rising over the country’s main maritime port, as attacks struck a fuel depot, Port Sudan International Airport, and a hotel located near government buildings, according to eyewitnesses and local officials.

Port Sudan, previously untouched by the ground and air violence that has ravaged much of the country, had served as a critical hub for the Sudanese Armed Forces, the United Nations, and aid organizations. The city had also become home to many displaced people, making the latest assault particularly alarming for humanitarian efforts.

The attacks, which began on Sunday, followed reports of drone strikes on a military base near the city’s only operational international airport. The next day, fuel depots were also hit. Military sources blamed the RSF for all three days of attacks.

Sudan’s army had appeared to gain momentum in recent weeks, reclaiming large portions of the capital, Khartoum, and advancing into RSF-held regions such as Darfur and West Kordofan. Analysts suggest that the RSF’s recent strikes on Port Sudan’s logistical centers are a strategic attempt to disrupt the army’s supply lines and shift the balance on the battlefield.

The violence drew swift condemnation from neighboring Egypt and Saudi Arabia, both of which warned of the growing humanitarian toll. The United Nations also voiced concern over the safety of civilians and aid operations now threatened in Port Sudan.

Since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, more than 12 million people have been displaced, and nearly half of Sudan’s population now faces acute hunger, according to the UN. The conflict began amid a power struggle between the army and RSF over the country’s transition to civilian rule.