A drone attack struck a residential area near Khartoum International Airport in Sudan’s capital city on Tuesday — just one day before the airport was due to reopen for domestic flights for the first time since the outbreak of the war in 2023.

Local residents reported hearing multiple explosions in several districts of the city in the early hours of Tuesday morning. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities have yet to release details on casualties or damage.

The Sudan Civil Aviation Authority had announced on Monday that the airport, heavily damaged in clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), would reopen on Wednesday after military-led repairs. A security source told the Sudan Tribune that Sudanese anti-aircraft defenses intercepted several drones around 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT), but no further information on the strike’s impact was provided.

This marks the third attack in the Khartoum area within a week, following drone or missile strikes on two army bases in north-west Khartoum on consecutive days last week. The timing of the latest attack suggests a possible intent to disrupt efforts to restore normalcy and highlight ongoing insecurity in the capital.

The attack comes amid Sudan’s ongoing civil war, which began in April 2023 when tensions between the SAF and RSF escalated into open conflict. The SAF regained control of key government buildings, including the presidential palace, in Khartoum by March 2025, according to AP News. However, fighting persists in regions like Darfur and Kordofan, where the RSF maintains strongholds and continues to launch attacks.

The United Nations has described Sudan’s humanitarian situation as one of the world’s worst crises. Millions have been displaced, entire towns devastated, and access to basic services remains severely limited. The latest strike underscores the persistent threat to civilians, even in areas considered under control, as the war shows no signs of abating.

For Khartoum’s residents, the drone attack is a stark reminder of the challenges in restoring stability and the ongoing risks to civilian life as military operations continue to disrupt essential infrastructure and services. ILKHA)