Port Sudan Under Siege: Drone Strikes Escalate Civil War Violence

In a shocking turn of events, Port Sudan, previously a refuge for those fleeing civil war, is now under attack by drone strikes linked to the Rapid Support Forces, marking a dangerous escalation in the conflict.

Large clouds of smoke rose over Port Sudan on Tuesday as drone strikes targeted the city's strategic sites, including a fuel depot, airport, and a prominent hotel, marking the third day of violence in an area that had otherwise provided refuge for displaced civilians. The drone operation is attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (R.S.F.), a Sudanese paramilitary group, igniting concerns for the safety of citizens who had fled from the violence engulfing other regions of the country.

At least two drone strikes were confirmed on Tuesday, with eyewitnesses recounting the chaos that ensued as the attacks rattled the typically tranquil port city. Khalid Ali Aleisir, Sudan's information minister, condemned the strikes as "criminal and terrorist attacks" on social media, asserting that governmental forces were committed to protecting civilians despite the escalating aggression.

The strikes reportedly hit the Marina Hotel, a known hotspot for diplomats, nestled near government structures, reinforcing fears of collateral damage in an already fractured environment. Fortunately, no casualties were reported immediately following the attacks; however, this escalation comes after a former period of relative calm for the city amidst the ongoing civil war, which has claimed around 15,000 lives and uprooted 13 million people since its outbreak in 2023.

The tension rose sharply after the R.S.F. executed a drone assault on Port Sudan for the first time, targeting an air base and ammunition locations with drones that can reach hundreds of miles, highlighting their expanding capabilities. While the immediate physical damage may have seemed limited, the fresh desolation overshadowed the hopes of residents like Mohamed Ahmed, a displaced citizen from Khartoum, who fears yet another forced relocation if violence continues to encroach upon their newfound safe haven.

As a humanitarian crisis looms, aid organizations are struggling to access conflict zones, with Port Sudan serving as a critical base for delivering assistance to those in dire need. The violence has sparked responses from international bodies, including the African Union, which expressed its dismay, labeling this recent surge as a direct threat to both civilian safety and regional stability.

The rapid evolution of this conflict underscores a dire need for dialogue and intervention to prevent further humanitarian disasters as Sudan endures its darkest hour in recent history.