Fierce battles in Sudan’s capital have claimed the lives of 31 people, with drone strikes and artillery shelling escalating tensions. On December 8, a drone hit a fuel station in southern Khartoum, killing 28 people and injuring 37. Meanwhile, artillery fire from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) left three dead in Omdurman on Saturday.
As the conflict between the RSF and General al-Burhan’s (SAF) continues, Atbara’s airport in northern Sudan was again targeted by drones early Monday.
The Khartoum Southern Belt Emergency Room reported that 28 people died and 37 were injured in a SAF drone attack on a fuel station near New Soug Sitta in the Mayo district, south of the city.
Of those wounded, 29 sustained severe burns, with three in critical condition, while the others were injured by shrapnel. The Mayo district is under RSF control, and volunteers have been running the emergency response after the RSF seized much of Khartoum state during the early stages of the conflict.
Meanwhile, the RSF-SAF fighting intensified in Khartoum North (Bahri). On Friday, artillery hit the Martyr Ali Abdelfattah Hospital in El Doroshab, though there were no reports of casualties.
In Atbara, residents reported hearing the sounds of anti-aircraft fire as drones targeted the local airport early this morning. More than 10 suicide drones hit the vicinity of the airport between 2:00 and 5:30 AM, but the River Nile state Security Committee confirmed that ground defenses, including anti-aircraft guns and electronic jamming, successfully intercepted the drones. No casualties or property damage were reported.
The attacks, which targeted infrastructure at Atbara’s airport, were believed to have originated from outside River Nile state, with missiles launched from over 500 kilometers away. The local security committee responded by closing all cafes and shisha lounges in Atbara to bolster security.
Atbara, which remains under SAF control, has been a frequent target of drone strikes throughout the conflict. Earlier this year, the town was struck by drones targeting a Ramadan iftar gathering, and in April, drones also targeted the Merowe Airport in Northern State.
The RSF has not claimed responsibility for these attacks.
Both the SAF and the RSF have utilized drones for both surveillance and offensive operations since the war began. The SAF has received advanced drones from Iran, while the RSF has sourced its drones from the UAE.
This growing reliance on drones has been noted as a significant factor in the conflict’s progression, with experts warning that these attacks may be a violation of international resolutions banning the supply of weapons to Sudanese armed groups.