Local witnesses reported that the latest wave of attacks struck several key locations early on Tuesday morning, including the vicinity of Port Sudan International Airport and the Bashayer oil terminal, a critical energy facility.
The Marina Hotel in southern downtown Port Sudan also sustained partial damage. Other strikes reportedly hit infrastructure sites and civilian areas.
Witnesses described loud explosions in the early hours, followed by plumes of smoke rising from the southern part of the city. Emergency services were seen rushing to affected areas, particularly the oil terminal, where fires reportedly burned for hours.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties, the damage to vital infrastructure raised fears of fuel shortages and transportation disruptions. Port Sudan’s airport, already affected by earlier strikes, had temporarily suspended operations for several hours over the past two days.
The Sudanese government has blamed the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the attacks, alleging the use of long-range and kamikaze drones.
These accusations come amid the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023.
Neither the RSF nor the UAE have publicly responded to the latest allegations or the continued drone attacks on Port Sudan. The lack of response has fueled speculation and uncertainty, particularly as no group has claimed responsibility for the strikes.
Port Sudan’s strategic importance has grown since mid-2023, when much of Khartoum fell under RSF control, leading to the relocation of Sudan’s government institutions, foreign embassies, and international organizations to the Red Sea city.
Previously considered a relatively safe area, the repeated targeting of Port Sudan now raises concerns about its stability and vulnerability.
As of Tuesday afternoon, Sudanese military and state authorities had not released any official statement regarding the extent of the damage or potential casualties. This silence has increased anxiety among Port Sudan residents, many of whom fear the city may no longer be immune to the war affecting other parts of Sudan.
The attacks mark a significant escalation in the use of drone warfare in the Sudanese conflict, signaling a potentially dangerous shift in tactics that could draw even the country’s remaining strongholds further into the turmoil.
