Repelling the Drones
The Sudanese army's ground-based air defense systems repelled a number of drones that attacked the capital, Khartoum, on Monday evening, for the second time that day, according to eyewitnesses. Witnesses told Anadolu Agency that the sounds of drones were clearly heard in several areas of the capital, especially in eastern Khartoum, where Khartoum International Airport is located.
Witnesses stated that the sounds of ground-based air defense systems were heard in the sky of Khartoum to counter the drones, while explosions were also heard. Activists also broadcast videos on social media showing several drones in the sky of Khartoum, with circulating reports stating that the Sudanese army's air defense systems intercepted them.
Casualties and Previous Targeting
Earlier on Monday, the Sudanese Lawyers for Emergency Rights association announced in a statement that three children were killed due to a drone strike by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the Nasser Extension area in eastern Khartoum that morning. No comments were issued by Sudanese authorities or the RSF regarding the two attacks.
Sudanese authorities and human rights organizations accuse the "Rapid Support Forces" of targeting civilian facilities, while the latter usually do not comment on these accusations, stating that they are working "to protect civilians." On May 4, the Sudanese Ministry of Information announced that a site in the square of Khartoum International Airport was targeted by a drone, without recording any casualties or property damage.
Defense and Security Council Meeting
In a related development, the Sudanese Defense and Security Council, the country's highest security body, welcomed the "martyrs of the Battle of Dignity (the war against the Rapid Support Forces) among unarmed citizens across the country who were targeted by the enemy's drones (the Rapid Support Forces)." This came during a meeting of the Council chaired by the Chairman of the Sovereignty Council and Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and including members of the Sovereignty Council, the Prime Minister, and several ministers, including the Ministers of Defense and Interior, according to a statement issued by the Sovereignty Council's media office.
The Council's secretary, Minister of Defense Hassan Dauod Kabrun, said the meeting reviewed the overall security situation amid increasing targeting and threats. He added: "The Council reassured the Sudanese people that the measures taken by the competent authorities are sufficient to thwart those plans." The Council directed the competent authorities, each within its jurisdiction, to take measures sufficient to defeat the plans and alleviate the suffering of citizens.
Background of the Crisis
Since April 2023, the "Rapid Support Forces" have been fighting the Sudanese army over a dispute regarding the integration of the former into the military institution, which has caused a famine within one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of Sudanese and the displacement of approximately 13 million people.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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