Drone strikes hit Khartoum and northern Sudanese cities

Coordinated drone strikes hit the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and two northern cities, Atbara and El-Damer, at dawn on Wednesday. The attacks follow several months of relative calm in the capital.

In Khartoum, reports indicated drone activity around 05:00 local time, accompanied by anti-aircraft missile fire from the Wadi Seidna military base near Omdurman. Witnesses in the northern cities of Atbara and El-Damer also reported seeing drones and hearing explosions. There were no immediate reports of casualties from these specific strikes.

The attacks occur amidst the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese military, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Since the war began in April 2023, the fighting has resulted in an estimated 200,000 deaths and displaced over 12 million people, creating what the UN describes as the world's most severe humanitarian crisis.

Both military leaders have remained unwilling to negotiate, seeking instead a decisive advantage on the battlefield. While the army maintains control over the north, east, and center of the country, the RSF has consolidated power in Darfur and continues to push into other regions.