Sudan Accuses Ethiopia of Launching 162 Drone Strikes That Killed Over 500

Sudan has accused Ethiopia of allowing 162 drone attacks to be launched from its territory, alleging that the strikes killed more than 400 civilians and 102 military personnel during the country’s ongoing civil war.

Senior Sudanese military, intelligence and government officials presented the allegations at a briefing in Khartoum on October 28, claiming that drones operating from Ethiopian bases had targeted cities, military positions and civilian infrastructure across Sudan.

Officials also accused the United Arab Emirates of involvement in enabling the attacks, linking the alleged operations to support for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The UAE has previously denied supporting the RSF.

Ethiopia has previously rejected similar allegations as baseless, and no response to the latest claims had been reported at the time of publication.

Sudan Claims More Than 500 Killed in Drone Attacks

Sudanese officials said the alleged cross-border drone campaign had caused extensive casualties and damage.

According to their figures, more than 400 civilians and 102 military personnel were killed in 162 attacks attributed to drones launched from Ethiopian territory, a combined toll of more than 500.

The officials also said dozens of schools, fuel stations, health centres and hospitals had been destroyed.

They named El Damazin, El Mazmum, Sennar, Kosti, Rabak, Belong, El Kurmuk, El Dinder, Wad El Mahi, El Obeid, Abu Oileila, Bara and Umm Rawaba as locations hit in the reported strikes.

Ethiopia Accused of Hosting Drone Launch Sites

Sudanese officials identified several locations in Ethiopia as alleged launch points for the attacks.

These included Assosa, Bahir Dar and sites along the Sudanese border.

They claimed that some drones followed flight paths alongside South Sudan before reaching targets inside Sudanese territory.

The government presented what it described as flight-tracking data and satellite imagery to support its accusations.

Officials also displayed fragments of drones they said had been intercepted by Sudanese forces.

Reuters and other outlets reported that they could not independently verify the flight data or the origin of the drones.

Sudan Names Turkish and Chinese Drone Models

The Sudanese military said several types of unmanned aircraft had been used in the alleged operations.

Officials identified Chinese-made drones, Turkish Bayraktar Akıncı and TB2 aircraft, and modified one-way attack drones.

Sudanese officials attributed the aircraft to operations originating from Ethiopia.

Khartoum Alleges Ethiopian Support for RSF

The accusations form part of a wider dispute over alleged foreign involvement in Sudan’s civil war.

Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Muawiya Osman Khalid described the alleged launches as “a dangerous development that could undermine security and stability in the region,” according to Anadolu Agency. He said Sudan reserved the right to protect itself.

Sudanese officials have repeatedly accused Ethiopia of facilitating operations benefiting the RSF. Khartoum also accused the UAE of involvement in enabling the latest attacks.

Clash Report reported in August on claims that Ethiopia had shifted from neutrality toward alignment with the RSF, citing the reception of RSF leader Hemedti in Addis Ababa and reported training and cargo movements in western Ethiopia.

In September, Sudan’s representative at the UN General Assembly called the UAE a “country of evil”, accusing it of worsening the war by supporting the RSF.

Media reports in February, including from Reuters, said Ethiopia was hosting a camp to train RSF fighters near the border and had upgraded Asosa airport for drone operations. Addis Ababa has not confirmed those claims.

The briefing did not establish an independently verified chain of command connecting the alleged launch sites, drone operators and foreign governments.

Ethiopia Previously Rejected Similar Allegations

In May 2026, Sudanese officials alleged that drones operating from Bahir Dar airport had targeted Khartoum airport and other locations, and Sudan recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia.

Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry rejected what it called “baseless accusations” and accused Sudan’s army of supporting hostile armed groups. The UAE also denied involvement.

Addis Ababa has also said it respects Sudan’s sovereignty.

No public response from Ethiopia to the latest figures had been reported at the time of publication.

Claims Follow Attacks on Energy Infrastructure

The allegations come amid a run of drone strikes on Sudanese power and fuel infrastructure.

Sudan Tribune reported that a drone strike disabled the Markhiyat power station northwest of Omdurman on October 27, cutting electricity across the capital area in what it described as the seventh such attack on the power grid within a week.

Further strikes the next day reportedly hit a power station and fuel storage facilities in El Manaqil in Gezira state, as well as fuel sites and a pipeline linked to Bashayer Port in Red Sea state.

Sudanese authorities attribute the attacks to drones launched from Ethiopia, while responsibility for the individual strikes has not been independently established.