Port Sudan Air Strikes (May 2025)

The Port Sudan Air Strikes were a three-day drone attack carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the city of Port Sudan in eastern Sudan between 4 and 6 May 2025. During the attacks, the international airport, port, military bases, fuel depots, and various civilian targets in the city were bombed. These developments have been recorded as the most comprehensive direct military intervention ever experienced in Port Sudan within the context of the Sudan Civil War.

On the morning of 4 May 2025, the RSF launched its first drone attack against the city of Port Sudan. According to Sudanese military sources, the military section of the Port Sudan International Airport and surrounding facilities were targeted. The RSF did not issue any statement regarding the attack. No casualties were reported. Following the strike, units of the Sudanese Armed Forces blocked roads leading to the presidential palace and military command center to enhance security measures.

On the morning of 5 May 2025, fuel depots at the Southern Port of Port Sudan were targeted in a second drone attack by the RSF. According to military sources, the attack occurred in the early hours of the morning, and the resulting fires could not be extinguished for an extended period. Black smoke rising from the port area was visible throughout the day. Civil defense teams were deployed to bring the fire under control.

On the same day, the civilian section of the Port Sudan International Airport was also attacked. According to local media, all flights were temporarily suspended and the airspace was closed to civilian traffic following the strike. No official statement was issued by authorities by the end of the day.

It is known that humanitarian supplies delivered by the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation were stored in the Southern Port area prior to the attack. No detailed information has been provided regarding the fate of these supplies.

On the morning of 6 May 2025, numerous explosions occurred across Port Sudan, with smoke detected rising from multiple locations within the city. The attacks on this date targeted three main areas:

Port Sudan International Airport: One of the drones struck the civilian section of the airport, causing fires in several buildings. Sudanese military sources confirmed that fuel depots at the airport were also targeted.

Military Headquarters and Surrounding Area: The main army headquarters in the city center and a hotel near the Presidential Guest House were attacked. This area is part of the government zone where the offices of Chief of Staff Abdulfettah al-Burhan are located.

_{Fire at nearby warehouses in the southern port of Port Sudan, 6 May 2025 - Anadolu Ajansı}

Fuel Depots at the Southern Port: The depots, previously targeted in earlier days, were struck for a third time. Reports indicated that fires reignited around the port area.

Port Sudan is a city on the Red Sea coast of Sudan and hosts the country’s primary port. Since 2023, it has served as the interim administrative capital following the fighting in Khartoum. The city houses the main headquarters of the Sudanese Armed Forces, the Port Sudan International Airport, and civilian administrative infrastructure. Additionally, the United Nations and humanitarian organizations are stationed in the area. As of 2025, hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians evacuated from Khartoum have settled in the city.

On 6 May 2025, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement regarding the events in Port Sudan, stating that reports of the attacks posed a threat to the protection of civilians and humanitarian operations. Countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia also responded to the strikes.

During the period of these attacks, the Sudanese government had filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) alleging that the United Arab Emirates had supported the RSF and contributed to genocide. However, on 5 May 2025, the Court dismissed the case on grounds of jurisdiction.

On Wednesday 7 May 2025, a new drone strike targeting the city of Port Sudan was reported. According to the Sudanese military, drones aimed at the Flamingo Naval Base were intercepted by air defense systems. Explosion sounds were heard across the city, but no detailed assessment of the attack’s impact or extent of damage was provided.

On the same day, it was stated that air defense units affiliated with the Sudanese Armed Forces had thwarted a drone attack over Port Sudan in the early morning. Explosion sounds were heard in various parts of the city. Sudanese Minister of Information Khalid Aleyser visited the South Port area on 7 May and accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying weapons to the RSF.

On 7 May 2025, Sudanese Minister of Defense Yasin Ibrahim also announced the termination of diplomatic relations between Sudan and the United Arab Emirates, stating that the Sudanese Embassy in Abu Dhabi would be closed and the UAE Ambassador would be expelled.

On Thursday 8 May 2025, early morning, Port Sudan was targeted by another drone strike, marking the fifth consecutive day of such attacks. According to eyewitnesses, the strike was directed at the headquarters of the Air Force College in the city. Sudanese air defense systems reportedly intervened during the approximately 45-minute attack. No official reports regarding casualties or damage from the strike have been released.

Following the intensification of attacks on Port Sudan since 4 May, the United Nations on 7 May 2025 described the city as a “lifeline for humanitarian operations.” UN officials warned that the strikes could disrupt the delivery of aid. Disruptions in humanitarian shipments have been reported due to attacks on the port, airport and fuel facilities.

The Port Sudan Airstrikes refer to a series of drone attacks carried out by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the eastern Sudanese city of Port Sudan beginning on May 4, 2025. During these strikes, the city’s international airport, seaport, military bases, fuel storage facilities, and various civilian sites were targeted and bombed. These incidents have been recorded as the most extensive direct military intervention in Port Sudan to date within the context of the ongoing Sudanese Civil War.

On the morning of May 4, 2025, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) conducted their first drone strike on the city of Port Sudan. According to sources within the Sudanese Armed Forces, the attack targeted the military section of Port Sudan International Airport and several nearby facilities. The RSF did not issue any statements claiming responsibility for the strike. No casualties were reported. In response, Sudanese military units increased security measures by sealing off roads leading to the presidential palace and army command headquarters.

During the early hours of May 5, 2025, the RSF launched a second drone attack targeting fuel depots located in the South Port area of Port Sudan. Military sources reported that the strikes occurred at dawn and triggered large-scale fires that continued throughout the day. Dense black smoke was observed rising from the port zone, and civil defense teams were deployed to contain the blaze.

Later the same day, the civilian section of Port Sudan International Airport was also struck. According to local media, all flight operations were suspended and the airspace was temporarily closed to civilian traffic. No official statements had been released by the end of the day.

It is known that humanitarian aid supplies delivered by the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation had been stored in the South Port area prior to the attack. However, no detailed information was provided regarding the condition of these supplies following the incident.

On the morning of May 6, 2025, multiple explosions were reported across Port Sudan. Plumes of smoke were observed rising from various locations within the city. The strikes on this date focused on three primary targets:

• Port Sudan International Airport: One drone hit the civilian section of the airport, causing fires in several buildings. Sudanese army sources also reported that the airport’s fuel storage facilities were targeted.
• Military Headquarters and Adjacent Area: The central army command base in the city and a hotel near the Presidential Guest House were struck. The area is part of the government district where Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan maintains his offices.
• Fuel Depots at South Port: Previously targeted storage facilities at the South Port were hit again. Renewed fires were reported in the vicinity of the port, and firefighting efforts were reinitiated.

These attacks marked a significant escalation in the conflict, making Port Sudan—previously considered a safe zone for displaced civilians and aid agencies—an active battleground.

Port Sudan is a city located on Sudan’s Red Sea coast and hosts the country's principal maritime port. Following the outbreak of intense fighting in Khartoum, the city was designated as the temporary administrative capital in 2023. It currently accommodates the Sudanese Armed Forces’ main headquarters, Port Sudan International Airport, and numerous civil administrative institutions. Additionally, the United Nations and various humanitarian aid organizations have established their operational bases in the city. By 2025, hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) evacuated from Khartoum had resettled in Port Sudan.

On May 6, 2025, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement regarding the events in Port Sudan, expressing concern that reports of drone strikes posed “a threat to the protection of civilians and the continuity of humanitarian operations.” Countries such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia also issued condemnations in response to the attacks.

Around the same time, the Sudanese government had brought a case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing the United Arab Emirates of contributing to acts of genocide by supporting the RSF. However, on May 5, 2025, the ICJ dismissed the case on jurisdictional grounds due to the UAE’s reservation on the Genocide Convention.

On Wednesday, May 7, 2025, another drone strike targeting Port Sudan was reported. According to statements by the Sudanese military, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) aimed at the Flamingo Naval Base were intercepted by the city’s air defense systems. While explosions were heard across the city, authorities did not issue any detailed assessments regarding the impact or extent of the damage.

That same morning, the Sudanese Armed Forces reported the successful interception of an RSF drone over Port Sudan. Explosions were again audible in multiple districts. During a visit to the South Port area on May 7, Sudanese Minister of Information Khalid Aleiser publicly accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying arms to the RSF.

Later that day, Sudanese Minister of Defense Yassin Ibrahim announced the severance of diplomatic relations with the UAE. He declared that Sudan’s embassy in Abu Dhabi would be closed and that the UAE ambassador would be expelled from the country.

On the morning of Thursday, May 8, 2025, Port Sudan came under drone attack for a fifth consecutive day. Eyewitnesses stated that the target appeared to be the Air Force College headquarters located within the city. The Sudanese military reported engaging the UAVs with air defense systems during a bombardment that lasted approximately 45 minutes. No information regarding casualties or material damage was released by official sources.

Following the escalation of drone strikes beginning on May 4, the United Nations issued another statement on May 7, 2025, describing Port Sudan as “a lifeline for humanitarian operations.” UN officials warned that the continued attacks were disrupting the distribution of aid, noting that the strikes on the port, airport, and fuel infrastructure had already caused logistical bottlenecks.