KHARTOUM, May 4 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese army announced on Sunday that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched drone attacks on a military airbase, a cargo warehouse, and civilian facilities in the eastern city of Port Sudan, amid reports of the suspension of flights at the city's international airport.
"This morning, May 4, the enemy targeted Osman Digna Airbase, a cargo depot, and some civilian facilities in Port Sudan with suicide drones," Spokesman of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Nabil Abdalla said in a statement.
"Our ground defenses successfully intercepted several drones, though some managed to cause limited damage, including those targeting an ammunition depot at Osman Digna Airbase that triggered scattered explosions. Fortunately, there were no casualties among personnel," he noted.
Meanwhile, a source at Port Sudan International Airport told Xinhua that authorities had temporarily suspended flights at the airport.
The source said five suicide drones targeted the airport but fell outside its perimeter, while videos shared on social media showed thick smoke rising from the vicinity of the airport.
According to the local newspaper Al-Sudani, the flight suspension at the airport is temporary, with authorities currently assessing the security situation before resuming normal air traffic.
This marks the first time RSF attacks have reached the coastal city of Port Sudan.
Since May 2023, Port Sudan has served as the country's interim capital, housing the government and diplomatic missions, while its international airport has been the main hub for flights to and from the country.
Recently, the RSF has intensified drone attacks on military sites and vital facilities within army-controlled areas.
Sudan has been embroiled in a devastating conflict between the SAF and the RSF since mid-April 2023, which has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions of people both inside and outside the country. ■