A BBC report says a drone attack struck near Khartoum’s international airport a day before the terminal was scheduled to reopen for domestic flights. The BBC article is the primary source for this coverage; social media footage cited in the report has not been independently verified.
What happened
According to the BBC, residents in several districts of Khartoum heard explosions early on Tuesday. The attack hit an area close to the international airport, which has been closed since fighting began in April 2023. The BBC report noted there were no confirmed casualties in the immediate aftermath of the strike.
Details reported
Sudan’s Civil Aviation Authority had announced the airport would reopen on Wednesday for domestic services after repair work. The BBC quoted local officials and sources saying anti‑aircraft systems intercepted several small drones after 04:00 local time (02:00 GMT). The Sudan Tribune also reported that defences engaged multiple drones, though independent verification outside those accounts is limited.
Sequence and context
This strike was the third reported incident in Khartoum within a week. Earlier strikes reportedly targeted two army bases in north‑west Khartoum on consecutive days. The international terminal was taken out of service when fighting began; limited repairs have been underway since the army recaptured the city from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Where and how this affects movement
The international terminal remained closed after heavy fighting in 2023. Port Sudan currently handles most international traffic for the country, but that airport has also faced drone threats. The BBC coverage highlights how the reopening plan would affect domestic travel and logistics inside Sudan. Any new strikes can delay flight resumption and complicate movement for aid and passengers.
Humanitarian and operational impact
The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF has produced large civilian displacement and heavy casualties. The United Nations describes the situation as a major humanitarian crisis. Attacks near transport hubs raise the risk that repairs will be delayed, essential supplies will be harder to move, and recovery efforts will face setbacks. The BBC story frames the drone incidents as part of a continuing pattern of long‑range and remote strikes in the conflict.
Sources and verification
Our piece is a rewrite and summary of reporting by BBC Africa. The BBC article is the principal source for the facts in this draft. The BBC itself links to other reporting and local sources; for example the Sudan Tribune is cited in coverage of the intercepted drones. Where the BBC notes social media footage, it also warns the material remains unverified.
References
- BBC Africa — Drone attack hits Khartoum ahead of planned airport reopening (Basillioh Rukanga & Shingai Nyoka).
- Sudan Tribune — local reporting cited by BBC (as referenced in BBC coverage).
- BBC explainer — Sudan war: A simple guide to what is happening (background context linked by BBC).
- Cyberwarzone related coverage: Senior Pentagon official warns cyber warfare poses major risk — internal archive link to our recent reporting.
Note: this article summarises and rewrites BBC reporting for Cyberwarzone readers. We attribute the facts to BBC Africa and to local sources cited there. We do not independently confirm the social media material referenced in the original report.