Sudanese army repels RSF drone attack on Atbara airport

December 9, 2024 (ATBARA) – Sudanese authorities said on Monday they had thwarted a fresh drone attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Atbara airport in River Nile State earlier in the day.

The attack, which began around 2 a.m. (2300 GMT Sunday) and lasted until 5:30 a.m. (0230 GMT Monday), involved “suicide drones” launched from outside the state, according to a statement from the River Nile State Police Media Office.

The state security committee said no casualties or damage were reported.

“Ground defences and electronic jamming devices successfully repelled the attack, shooting down all the drones in the vicinity of the airport before they could reach their targets,” the statement said.

The incident marks the latest in a series of drone attacks attributed to the RSF. On December 2, the Sudanese government accused the United Arab Emirates of supplying the paramilitary group with advanced drones, claiming the attacks on Atbara were launched from Chad.

The RSF has not publicly commented on the accusations.

The RSF has increasingly relied on drones to target army positions and civilian infrastructure since the conflict in Sudan erupted in April last year.

Atbara Airport, 400 km north of the capital, Khartoum, recently underwent renovations and expansion, including upgrades to its