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Sudan blames Ethiopia and UAE for airport attack
Sudan has accused Ethiopia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of carrying out drone strikes on its main international airport in Khartoum, labeling the assault a "direct aggression." The attack, which occurred on Monday, targeted both the airport and military sites in the capital region.
Strikes disrupt fragile calm in Khartoum
The drone attacks shattered a period of relative stability in the Sudanese capital, which had followed the military's push to expel the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the city last year. Witnesses reported hearing explosions and seeing smoke near the airport, though Sudan's information minister confirmed no casualties.
The airport, a critical hub in the ongoing conflict between Sudan's army and the RSF, was forced to suspend operations for 72 hours after the strikes caused minor damage to an administrative building. Authorities later announced the resumption of flights following routine safety checks.
Evidence and denials
Sudan's military claimed to possess "conclusive evidence" that the drones were launched from Bahir Dar airport in Ethiopia, according to the state-owned Sudan News Agency (Suna). A military spokesman alleged that a drone linked to the UAE, previously intercepted in March, had entered Sudanese airspace from Ethiopia before being shot down.
Ethiopia dismissed the accusations as "baseless," while the UAE has not responded to the latest claims. Both countries have previously denied involvement in the Sudanese conflict, with the UAE rejecting allegations of military support for the RSF.
"The UAE and Ethiopia have chosen the wrong path and will regret it," Sudan's Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem said.
Sudanese Foreign Ministry
Diplomatic tensions escalate
In response to the attack, Sudan recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia for "consultations." Ethiopia's foreign ministry, however, emphasized the "historic and enduring bond of friendship" between the two nations, urging dialogue between Sudan's warring factions. The ministry also accused unnamed belligerents in Sudan's civil war of violating Ethiopia's territorial integrity.
Tensions have been further fueled by reports from February, in which Reuters alleged that Ethiopia was hosting a training camp for RSF fighters and had upgraded Asosa airport for drone operations, with backing from the UAE. Both Ethiopia and the UAE denied the claims at the time.
Humanitarian crisis deepens
The renewed violence comes amid a devastating civil war that has killed over 150,000 people and displaced 12 million since 2023. The United Nations has described the situation as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with famine and allegations of genocide in the western Darfur region adding to the catastrophe.
The attack on Khartoum airport occurred just one week after the first direct international commercial flight in three years landed there, marking a tentative step toward normalcy in the conflict-ravaged country.
