Sudan’s army repels drone assault targeting bases near Khartoum

A series of drone strikes struck Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, over several hours on October 15, according to eyewitnesses and a military source cited by AFP.

A spokesman for Sudan’s army said most of the drones targeting two army bases northwest of the capital were successfully shot down. The country’s military has been engaged in a fierce conflict since April 2023 with the paramilitary Rapid Support Force (RSF), which frequently carries out drone assaults on army positions.

Residents in Omdurman, part of the Greater Khartoum area, reported seeing drones flying over the city throughout the night and hearing “loud explosions coming from the north.”

According to the Sudan Shield forces, this marks the second consecutive day of drone strikes in the capital.

The report noted that more than 800,000 people have returned to their homes since the army’s offensive and its recapture of Khartoum. The army-backed government has since begun an extensive reconstruction program and plans to relocate officials from the temporary military capital in Port Sudan back to Khartoum.

Despite these efforts, large parts of the capital remain in ruins and lack stable access to essential services, while millions continue to experience frequent power outages caused by long-range drone attacks.

The most intense fighting between government troops and paramilitaries remains concentrated in the western region of Darfur.

By Tamilla Hasanova