Did Drone Strikes Target Khartoum International Airport?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Drone strikes targeted Khartoum International Airport.
- The airport was set to resume domestic flights
- There were minor injuries reported among workers.
- Conflict in Sudan continues to escalate.
- Port Sudan International Airport remains the only international flight hub.
Khartoum, Oct 21 (NationPress) Early on Tuesday morning, drone attacks struck Khartoum International Airport and various regions of the Sudanese capital, just a day prior to the scheduled resumption of domestic flights.
"Five suicide drones targeted Khartoum Airport at dawn today," a military source disclosed to Xinhua news agency. "Ground-based anti-aircraft systems successfully intercepted and neutralized the drones, resulting in minimal damage," stated the source, who preferred to remain anonymous.
According to another source at the airport, several maintenance personnel and a civil defense officer experienced minor injuries as a result of the assault.
Local residents reported hearing loud explosions across multiple neighborhoods in the capital. An eyewitness from the East Nile area recounted, "We heard the sounds of around 11 drones, followed by a series of explosions."
As of now, no official statements have been issued regarding the incident.
On Monday, the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority had announced that Khartoum International Airport was set to resume domestic flights starting Wednesday.
The airport has endured significant damage during the ongoing conflict, having been one of the first locations assaulted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at the onset of the war on April 15, 2023.
Since then, authorities have been working to restore the airport following the army’s reclamation of full control over Khartoum State in May.
An announcement concerning the reopening of airspace between eastern Sudan and Khartoum is anticipated soon, as it has remained closed since the conflict began.
Currently, Port Sudan International Airport, located in the eastern part of the country, is the sole operational hub for international flights, with some local airports functioning on a limited basis.
Sudan remains embroiled in a devastating conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which erupted in April 2023. The war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced millions, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country.