KINSHASA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The Movement of March 23 (M23) rebel group said early Wednesday that it had indeed carried out an operation targeting a military drone command center operated by the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) army in eastern DRC.
In a statement, the group said that between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, it launched an operation at an airport in Kisangani, the capital of Tshopo province, targeting what it described as a "military drone command center" located at the airport.
The group claimed that the facility had been used by government forces to carry out attacks in areas under its control, resulting in civilian casualties.
The M23 said it would not "stand idly while innocent civilians are systematically targeted" and warned that it would continue to take action against what it called the "threats at their source."
Earlier, the provincial government of Tshopo said in a statement that the armed forces of the DRC had thwarted an attempted drone attack on Kisangani airport and shot down eight drones.
According to the statement, several "kamikaze" drones carrying unconventional munitions attempted to attack Bangboka Airport on the outskirts of Kisangani between Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The army responded swiftly and intercepted the drones before they reached their targets.
The provincial government said the attempted attack was linked to the M23 and condemned the act as a serious violation of international law. Local media reported that the incident caused no casualties.
Security conditions remain volatile in eastern DRC, where multiple armed groups are active. Since January 2025, the M23 has launched repeated offensives in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu, seizing several key towns. ■
