Sudanese air defenses shot down a drone launched by paramilitary forces as it approached Khartoum International Airport on Monday; there were no injuries or damage. The device reportedly came from the south and may have been launched from a neighboring country, officials said. The strike follows a weekend RSF drone attack that killed at least five people and briefly halted airport operations before flights resumed.
Sudanese Military Shoots Down Paramilitary Drone Approaching Khartoum Airport; No Casualties
This is a locator map for Sudan with its capital, Khartoum. (AP Photo)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
SHENDI, Sudan (AP) — Sudanese air defenses intercepted and shot down a drone launched by paramilitary forces as it neared Khartoum International Airport on Monday, airport officials said. The interception caused no damage or injuries and flights were briefly suspended while authorities conducted routine checks.
Officials said the unmanned aircraft approached from the south and was engaged by air-defense units. A military official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the device appeared to have been launched from a neighboring country but provided no further details.
The incident follows a separate weekend attack in which the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) used a drone that struck a civilian vehicle on the outskirts of Khartoum, killing at least five people. All officials who discussed the incidents spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.
Airport Operations and Context
Khartoum International Airport briefly halted flights while security and runway inspections were carried out; authorities later announced that services would resume. The airport's gradual reopening last year was seen as a key step toward restoring everyday life in Khartoum after the city was retaken by the army following months of intense urban fighting.
In February, a commercial plane landed at Khartoum for only the second time since the conflict began in April 2023, underscoring how limited scheduled air service remains.
Human Cost of the Conflict
Since the fighting erupted between the army and the RSF in April 2023, monitoring group Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) reports at least 59,000 deaths. The United Nations estimates roughly 12 million people have been displaced and warns that parts of Sudan are edging toward famine. Aid groups say the true death toll and humanitarian toll are likely higher because access to many battle zones is restricted.
Associated Press writer Fatma Khaled in Cairo contributed to this report.
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