Port Sudan endured a sixth straight day of drone strikes on Friday, according to a military source who blamed the attacks on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), engaged in a brutal conflict with Sudan’s army since April 2023.
“Our air defences intercepted some of the enemy drones which were targeting sites in the city,” said the source, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the situation.
Residents reported explosions across the city, which serves as the administrative seat of Sudan’s army-backed government and a critical hub for humanitarian operations.
Previously considered a safe haven from the ongoing war, Port Sudan has faced repeated drone assaults since Sunday, severely damaging vital infrastructure. Among the targets hit are the nation’s only international airport, its largest functioning fuel depot, and the city’s main power station.
The attacks have sparked growing concern among international aid agencies. The United Nations warned that continued strikes on the city—Sudan’s principal gateway for humanitarian supplies—could deepen the already dire humanitarian crisis. UN Secretary-General António Guterres, through his spokesperson, said the attacks “threaten to increase humanitarian needs and further complicate aid operations in the country.”
A satellite image dated May 5, 2025, from Planet Labs PBC shows smoke rising from one of the impacted areas in Port Sudan, underlining the extent of the damage.
After more than two years of war, Sudan faces what the UN describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced over 13 million people across the region.
