The city of Port Sudan, currently serving as Sudan’s interim administrative capital, came under a fresh wave of drone attacks on Tuesday, marking the third such assault in less than a week. The strikes, attributed to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), targeted key infrastructure including the international airport, oil depots, and areas close to government facilities.
Multiple explosions were reported near the Port Sudan International Airport and the city’s main seaport along the Red Sea. A large fire broke out at an oil depot in the southern port area, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky and prompting a swift response from emergency services.
Sources on the ground confirmed that one of the drones struck a fuel facility within the airport grounds, triggering a powerful blast that forced the suspension of all flight operations. Airport authorities evacuated passengers as civil defense teams battled to contain the blaze.
Two other explosions rocked the city center shortly after the initial strikes. One drone reportedly hit the Marina Hotel—located less than 500 meters from the temporary Presidential Palace—causing moderate structural damage. Another explosion occurred near the Flamingo military base in the city’s north.
The RSF, which has been engaged in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces since April 2023, has stepped up its aerial offensives in recent days. Sunday’s strikes targeted the Othman Digna Air Base, and a separate attack on Monday ignited large fires at strategic fuel storage facilities in the city’s southern outskirts.
These repeated attacks are raising concerns over the vulnerability of Port Sudan, which has until recently been considered a relatively safe haven amid the nationwide conflict. The city hosts foreign diplomats, UN staff, and displaced civilians, many of whom were staying in hotels now within the attack zone.
No official statements have yet been released by the Sudanese government or the military high command regarding Tuesday’s drone bombardment. The RSF has not claimed responsibility but is widely suspected, based on the type and pattern of recent assaults.
Port Sudan’s increasing exposure to RSF drone strikes signals a significant escalation in the civil war’s geography, threatening to destabilize the last remaining logistical and diplomatic hub on the Red Sea coast.