Sudan: 'Flights From Khartoum Airport Suspended for the Third Day Following Drone Attack'

Coverage Comparison

Two reports from AllAfrica provide the most detailed accounts of the incident. Both sources attribute the drone attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), though one report notes that the attack was "suspected" and not yet confirmed independently. The first report focuses on the UN's alarm over the escalating drone attacks, while the second emphasizes the UN's condemnation and the ongoing suspension of flights. Both agree on the core facts: the airport was targeted, the main terminal was not hit, and flights remain suspended.

Key Claims

• A suspected drone attack by the RSF targeted Khartoum International Airport and nearby areas, marking the first such strike since October.
• The main terminal was not hit during the attack, according to an airport worker and initial reports.
• Witnesses reported seeing plumes of smoke after the strikes, which also targeted locations including Obeid Khatim Street, areas south of Khartoum, and El Murkhiyat military base in Omdurman.
• The UN World Food Programme (WFP) confirmed that its operations and staff were unaffected by the attack.
• Flights to and from Khartoum have remained suspended for a third day, according to the UN team in Sudan.
• Sudan's Prime Minister Kamil Idris, accompanied by ministers and officials, inspected the airport to assess preparations for resuming air traffic.
• The UN team has returned to Khartoum to continue its work after relocating to Port Sudan during the war.
• Reports indicate drone strikes also hit fuel stations and tankers in the city, causing injuries and disrupting essential services.
• The UN raised concern over escalating drone attacks threatening civilians and humanitarian access in Sudan.

Perspectives

UN and International Community: The UN has repeatedly voiced alarm over the drone attacks, calling them a violation of international humanitarian law. UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric condemned the attacks, stressing that civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected. The UN also highlighted the airport's critical role as a humanitarian aid corridor, noting that its closure hampers aid delivery.

Sudanese Government: Prime Minister Kamil Idris visited the airport to oversee recovery efforts and expressed "categorical rejection" of the attack, calling the airport a "purely civilian facility" and the attack "unjustified." His inspection signals the government's commitment to restoring air traffic and maintaining essential services despite the ongoing conflict.

Humanitarian Impact: The WFP stated its operations were unaffected, but the suspension of flights at Khartoum airport poses a significant challenge for aid delivery. The UN's concern over humanitarian access is echoed in reports of injuries and disruptions to essential services from strikes on fuel stations, which could further strain the civilian population.

Timeline and Context

The attack on Khartoum airport occurred on Monday, with flights suspended since. By Wednesday, the UN confirmed the continued suspension. The UN team's return to Khartoum from Port Sudan marks a notable shift, as it had relocated after the outbreak of war. The RSF has not commented on the attacks, and independent verification of the reported strikes on fuel stations remains pending.

This article is based on two reports from AllAfrica; other outlets may have additional or divergent details.