Drone strikes escalate Port Sudan conflict

By Daisy Okiring

Port Sudan, once considered a safe haven in Sudan’s brutal civil war, has become the latest battleground after a wave of drone attacks launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The strikes mark a significant escalation in the conflict and a new phase of remote warfare that experts say aims to shock and destabilize.

Following the Sudanese army’s recent retaking of Khartoum, the RSF responded with an unprecedented series of drone strikes on Port Sudan in the country’s east. These attacks targeted critical infrastructure including power stations and fuel depots, resulting in widespread blackouts and water shortages for civilians.

“It’s a level of power projection we haven’t seen yet,” said Alan Boswell of the International Crisis Group. “It raises the stakes quite a bit.”

The drone assault on Port Sudan—a wartime capital and humanitarian hub—signals the RSF’s strategic shift to demonstrate its capability despite territorial setbacks. Analysts believe the campaign is part of a larger effort to undermine the army’s control and convey that the RSF remains a formidable force.

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RSF use of drones

The RSF’s use of drones—especially kamikaze-style UAVs—has increased since its retreat from Khartoum. On Wednesday, it attacked three power stations in Omdurman, worsening electricity outages across the capital region. But it was the strikes on Port Sudan that proved most alarming, illustrating a leap in the paramilitary’s technological capabilities.

“This is not just about gaining territory; it’s about making governance impossible,” said Sudanese political analyst Kholood Khair. “The RSF is trying to show the army that even if they hold cities like Khartoum or Port Sudan, they won’t be able to govern them.”

Footage and satellite imagery suggest the RSF may now possess advanced Chinese-made CH-95 drones, capable of long-range attacks. Some reports also indicate the use of signal jammers to breach air defense systems.

Both sides in the conflict are accused of war crimes, with the RSF particularly singled out for mass rape and ethnic violence. The RSF, in turn, accuses the army—allegedly backed by Iran—of targeting civilians.

The port city is critical for humanitarian relief, hosting the country’s only functional international airport and serving as a gateway for aid. The UN has warned that the attacks could lead to large-scale civilian casualties and further cripple relief efforts.

Foreign involvement continues to fuel the war. The Sudanese army accuses the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supplying drones to the RSF—an allegation the UAE denies. However, U.S. State Department-funded research, led by Justin Lynch of Conflict Insights Group, found with “near certainty” that the UAE was enabling the RSF through indirect arms transfers.

Lynch also identified Iranian and Turkish support to the Sudanese army, a claim Tehran and Ankara have denied.

Ankara denial

“This is a war of technology,” said Lynch. “The RSF isn’t manufacturing these drones—they’re getting them from outside.”

The RSF’s ability to strike strategic targets hundreds of kilometers away has stunned Sudan’s allies, including Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and narrowed the air-power gap with the national army. Comparisons are now being made to the Russia-Ukraine drone conflict.

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“These weapons are cheaper, more precise, and no longer require piloted aircraft,” said Jeremy Binnie of Janes. “It’s a sign of how advanced warfare is reaching even sub-Saharan civil conflicts.”

As drone warfare reshapes the battlefield, Sudan’s foreign ministry has warned the strikes pose a threat to Red Sea security and urged global powers to act against the RSF’s alleged sponsors.

Without a diplomatic breakthrough—particularly between the Sudanese army and the UAE—experts fear the war could drag on for years.

“This war is evolving,” Lynch warned. “Without real diplomatic action, it could last for decades.”