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.

_{Fires at Port Sudan’s South Port and airport, May 6, 2025 – Anadolu Agency}

May 4, 2025 – First Drone Strike

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.

May 5, 2025 – Second Strike and Outbreak of Fires

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.

May 6, 2025 – Third Wave of Attacks

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.

Strategic Position of Port Sudan and Its Role During the War

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.

International Reactions and Diplomatic Developments

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.

Drone Attacks and Diplomatic Tensions on May 7–8, 2025

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.