The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched drone strikes on key sites in Sudan’s capital, including Khartoum International Airport and a nearby power converter station, just hours before domestic flights were due to resume after a 30-month shutdown.

Witnesses reported a series of explosions across the airport zone early Tuesday.

Airport Reopening Plans Thrown Into Uncertainty

The Civil Aviation Authority had announced that Khartoum International Airport would reopen to domestic flights on Wednesday, marking the first operations since the war forced its closure in April 2023.

Officials said technical inspections had been completed, but the latest attack now raises doubts about the safety of air operations. “It was clearly meant to disrupt the reopening,” a local source told reporters.

Witness Accounts And Conflicting Reports

Residents cited by local outlet Rakoba News said they heard “more than eight explosions” between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. near the airport. The blasts triggered panic in surrounding neighborhoods as anti-aircraft fire echoed across the city.

According to early reports, the Sudanese army shot down several drones, though others hit their intended targets. There was no immediate statement from either the army or the RSF.

Control Of The Capital And Military Situation

In March, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced they had retaken Khartoum airport and parts of the city’s east and south following months of fierce street battles.

Despite those gains, drone and artillery attacks by the RSF have persisted, demonstrating the group’s ability to strike strategic sites even after losing ground in conventional fighting.