UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS
By Adel Abdelrheem and Ikram Kouachi
KHARTOUM, Sudan/ANKARA (AA) – The Sudanese army said Sunday that it had shot down drones targeting the Osman Digna air base and civilian infrastructure in the eastern city of Port Sudan.
“The enemy targeted the Osman Digna airbase, a goods warehouse, and some civilian facilities in Port Sudan using drones,” army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah said in a statement.
He added that air defenses managed to shoot down several of them.
The spokesman noted that while some of the drones caused “limited” damage, there were no reported injuries.
The Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that it issued a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) suspending all inbound and outbound flights at Port Sudan Airport until 5:00 p.m. local time (15:00 GMT).
NOTAMs are a vital component of aviation safety, providing critical information to pilots, air traffic controllers, and airport personnel to ensure efficient and secure airspace management.
Local media had reported that Port Sudan Airport had been temporarily shut down after the city was targeted by drone attacks.
The incident marked the first drone attack on Port Sudan, which has served as the administrative capital and de facto seat of the Sudanese government since fighting with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) began in April 2023.
In recent weeks, drone strikes have increasingly targeted power stations in northern cities such as Merowe, Dongola, Al Dabbah, and Atbara.
Sudanese authorities have blamed the RSF for the drone assaults on electricity infrastructure, though the rebel group has not commented on the latest attack on Port Sudan.
Since April 15, 2023, the RSF has been battling the army for control of Sudan, resulting in thousands of deaths and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
More than 20,000 victims have been killed, and 15 million displaced, according to the UN and local authorities. Research from US scholars, however, estimates the death toll at around 130,000.