Democratic Republic of Congo security forces repelled a drone strike on Kisangani Bangboka airport, marking the second attack in a month.
Authorities in Tshopo province said four “kamikaze drones” launched by the M23 armed group on Sunday were intercepted and shot down.
No casualties were reported, while the M23 publicly claimed responsibility for the coordinated assault on the strategic facility.
Bangboka airport serves both civilian and military flights, and the Congolese army uses it to launch drones and fighter planes.
The drone strike occurred in four waves, with the last targeting the airport as a Compagnie Africaine d’Aviation civilian plane approached.
M23 described the operation as “targeted” to destroy drones they said would “massacre civilians and attack our positions.”
The group warned of further operations if government offensives against them continue unabated in eastern DRC.
M23 re-emerged in late 2021, quickly capturing large swaths of the mineral-rich region and escalating conflict with Congolese forces.
Bangboka airport was also attacked between January 31 and February 1, with M23 claiming destruction of the military drone command centre.
Both sides frequently accuse each other of using drones in civilian-populated areas, heightening tensions in the conflict-ravaged east.
On Saturday, M23 reported that a Congolese army drone killed its military spokesperson, fueling fears of escalating retaliatory strikes.
The eastern DRC remains devastated by decades of conflict, with the M23 backed by Rwanda and the army struggling to regain control.