The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched another wave of drone attacks on Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, and its international airport on Friday, marking the fourth consecutive day of sustained strikes. The assault has raised fears about the safety of air operations just days before the airport was due to reopen.
Residents near Khartoum International Airport reported hearing drones and surface-to-air missiles overnight, followed by loud explosions in the early morning hours. It remains unclear whether the airport was directly hit or the extent of any potential damage.
The attacks come after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) recaptured Khartoum from the RSF in March, with officials planning to resume limited air traffic. However, an airport source said reopening plans were suspended “until further notice” due to the ongoing security threat.
The two-year war between the RSF and SAF, which erupted in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced nearly 12 million, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Civilians returning to Khartoum after months of fighting have found their homes destroyed and infrastructure in ruins. With the Sudanese pound weakening sharply—from 600 to 3,500 against the dollar—the cost of rebuilding has become impossible for most families.
The Sudanese government has vowed to restore the capital, but reconstruction efforts have so far focused on state buildings, leaving residents to face the devastation on their own.