Alleged drone strikes in Port Sudan

After reports of drone strikes emerged from Port Sudan in early May, CIR verified user-generated content (UGC) and satellite imagery confirming fires and damage to six sites.  

Key findings

• Between 4 and 7 May, drone strikes were reported in Port Sudan, Red Sea state, hitting key military, civilian and energy infrastructure. The attacks are the first in the city since April 2023, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. 
• CIR verified video footage and satellite imagery showing fires and smoke plumes at multiple locations in Port Sudan between 4 and 7 May including: the Osman Digna Airbase, located at the northern end of Port Sudan International Airport on 4 May, the Strategic Petroleum Products depots on 5 May and the Southern Port fuel storage facility on 6 May.
• Planet satellite imagery showed destruction to the Osman Digna Airbase on 5 May, including damage to a hangar and Ilyushin-76 (IL-76) aircraft. CIR also identified damage on satellite imagery to Port Sudan Converter station between 5 and 6 May and the Flamingo Naval base between 6 and 7 May.
• CIR verified footage posted on 5 May from inside the Mariana Hotel showing damage and munition fragments. CIR could not confirm the weapon but noted similarities with munition remnants circulating online after the alleged RSF drone attack in Al Malha, North Darfur, in March 2025. In addition, CIR noted similarities between the fragments identified in Port Sudan and Al Malha, and a Chinese-made guided bomb that is highly likely compatible with drones operated by the RSF and their allies.
• CIR assessed the separate munition remnants circulated online more closely matched a Russian-made surface-to-air missile that can also be launched from equipment operated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), although CIR could not verify the source images. 
• The SAF attributed the attacks to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and Sudan’s Security and Defence Council severed diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 6 May as a result of the attacks, accusing them of arming the RSF. The RSF have not claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Introduction

Between 4 and 7 May 2025, a series of drone strikes in at least six locations reportedly hit Port Sudan, Red Sea state, targeting key military, civilian, and energy infrastructure. These incidents mark the first attacks on the city since the start of the conflict in April 2023, escalating the conflict in an area that has remained relatively stable and served as a critical hub for humanitarian operations. CIR verified user-generated content and satellite imagery confirming fires and damage to six sites in Port Sudan between the 4 and 7 May, including to the Osman Digna Airbase, located at the northern end of the Port Sudan International Airport runway on 4 May, the Strategic Petroleum Products depots and Marina Hotel[1] on 5 May, Port Sudan Converter station and fuel tanks in the Southern Port on 6 May, and to the Flamingo Naval base on 7 May. 

CIR additionally analysed footage showing munition remnants allegedly related to the attack. Although inconclusive, CIR identified remnants in verified footage that bear similarities to a Chinese-made guided bomb, which appears to be compatible with drones previously linked to the RSF. Other footage analysed by CIR show what appears to be an anti-aircraft missile linked to the SAF. 

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have attributed the attacks to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On 6 May, Sudan’s Security and Defense Council released a statement accusing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of escalating the conflict by allegedly arming the RSF, and officially designated the UAE an “aggression state”. The RSF have not claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Alleged drone attacks in Port Sudan

CIR verified damage from alleged drone strikes on Port Sudan between 4 and 7 May. The attacks affected military, energy, and civilian infrastructure, causing significant damage to the Strategic Petroleum Products depots, the Marina Hotel, the fuel depot in the Southern Port terminal and the Flamingo Naval Base.

On 4 May, Sudan War Updates posted four videos to X, showing what it claimed were drone strikes targeting Port Sudan Airport, filmed from a distance. CIR verified that one of the videos was filmed at a position northeast of the Osman Digna Airbase, located at the northern end of the Port Sudan International Airport runway. On the same day, Al Jazeera reported that according to the SAF, the RSF carried out drone strikes on the Osman Digna Airbase, as well as other civilian facilities in Port Sudan. On 4 May, NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) detected two heat signatures over the airbase. Analysis of Planet satellite imagery confirmed that a hangar and an Ilyushin-76 (IL-76) were destroyed at the northern end of the runway at Osman Digna Airbase between 3 and 5 May. High resolution satellite imagery from 8 May shows the damage more clearly (figure 1).

On 5 May, Ayin Network posted to X reporting that fires had broken out following another alleged attack. Footage shared by the group showed an active fire at the Strategic Petroleum Products depots, located approximately 10 km south of Port Sudan city centre. Analysis of Planet satellite imagery from 5 May confirmed a visible smoke plume and active fire originating from a fuel silo in the southwest corner of the site (figure 2). 

On the same day, Al Arabiya posted a video on YouTube showing interior damage to the Marina Hotel in Port Sudan city centre. While the intended target of the alleged strike that resulted in this damage remains unclear, CIR identified that the Presidential Guesthouse in Port Sudan is approximately 50 metres south of the Marina Hotel.

On 6 May, the Sudan Electricity Media Coordination Council posted to Facebook claiming that the Port Sudan Converter station was attacked earlier that morning. CIR verified damage to the facility on Planet satellite imagery between 5 and 6 May. That same day, Reuters reported that a drone strike targeted the Southern Port, citing witnesses from the British maritime security firm Ambrey. According to Ambrey, the attack impacted a number of facilities, including the port’s fuel storage depot. On 6 May, a video was posted to a pro-RSF Telegram channel showing an active fire at the port’s fuel storage facility. CIR verified the footage and identified a large smoke plume originating from the fuel storage depot on Planet satellite imagery from 6 May (figure 3).

On 7 May, Reuters reported that another drone attack targeted the SAF’s Flamingo Naval base. Planet satellite imagery from 7 May showed damage to two warehouses on the base.  On the same day, Planet imagery showed that smoke plumes were still coming from both the Southern Port fuel depot and the Strategic Petroleum Products site.

Analysis of munition remnants

CIR analysed footage showing munition remnants allegedly linked to Port Sudan attacks. On 5 May, a pro-SAF influencer published two posts with three images to Facebook, accompanied by preliminary claims suggesting the remnants were from a guided bomb or missile. The post includes references to a United States-made ammunition, a bomber allegedly responsible for deploying the munitions, and an airbase in northeast Somalia (Bosaso, an airbase claimed to be linked to UAE activities[2]) purportedly used in the 4 May airstrike on Osman Digna Airbase. The same pro-SAF influencer posted a fourth image to Facebook less than an hour after the first, showing the same munition captioned with further analysis. However, CIR’s analysis of the images suggests that the remnants more closely match a surface-to-air missile, specifically of a Russian-made 9M33 missile (figure 4) that can be launched from a 9K33 OSA air defense system, which is operated by the SAF[3]. 

CIR was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the images. However,  the munition appears to be a short range air defense missile launched from the ground, while the attacks were likely launched from air and SAF controls the Red Sea State. If the images are authentic, it is therefore more likely the munition was used by the SAF to defend the attacks. 

CIR also identified munition remnants that appear to lead back to the RSF in footage posted by Sudan News to X on 6 May, which CIR verified was filmed inside the Marina Hotel. CIR was unable to conclusively identify the munition; however, the fragments bear similarities to unverified footage showing remnants circulated online after the alleged RSF drone attack reported by the Darfur Network for Human Rights in Al Malha, North Darfur, on 9 and 10 March 2025 (figure 5). Furthermore, CIR independently matched features of  the remnants allegedly from the Al Malha attack to a GB7/GB50 Chinese-made guided bomb (figure 6). The GB7/GB50 is highly likely compatible with drones operated by RSF and its allies, according to a report from Amnesty International that also matched the Al Malha remnants with the GB7. According to Africa Military, the GB7 specifically can be used by CH-95 drones, which the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab confirmed were operated from RSF-controlled Nyala.

Attribution

The alleged drone attacks in Port Sudan have been widely attributed to the RSF in reporting online. In a video statement published to X on 6 May by Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council, SAF Commander General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan blamed the RSF for the attacks and pledged to defeat the group and its supporters.

“We affirm that we in the [Sudanese] Armed Forces, the Popular [Armed] Resistance, and the Joint Forces, [and] all the units fighting with the Sudanese army now are lined up behind one, against and to deter this aggression. […] We will all move forward to achieve our goals of defeating this militia, defeating it, defeating those who support it, and defeating those who assist it.”

“We say to all those who have assaulted the Sudanese people, the hour of retribution will come. The hour of retribution will come. The hour of retribution will come. I swear, the Sudanese people will be victorious, and I swear, they will be victorious and victorious.”

On the same day, Sudan’s Security and Defense Council released a statement accusing an external actor of escalating the conflict by allegedly arming the RSF “with advanced strategic weapons. [Allowing it] to continue to target vital facilities and service centres in the country, the latest of which was the targeting of oil and gas depots, Port Sudan [sea and air] ports, power stations and hotels.” The statement officially designated the UAE as an “aggression state.”

In response to the continued attacks the Security and Defense Council announced the severing of diplomatic ties with the UAE, including the withdrawal of the Sudanese Embassy and the public consulates from the UAE. 

Also on 6 May, the official RSF Telegram channel published a statement accusing the “terrorist Islamic Movement [SAF] and its domestic foreign militias” of posing the greatest threat to Sudan’s stability and security. Although the statement did not directly reference the Port Sudan attacks, it coincided with the incidents and criticised SAF’s activities in Sudan alleging attempts to undermine peace efforts.

CIR could not confirm who was responsible for the attacks on Port Sudan. 

Impact of attacks in Port Sudan

The alleged drone strikes in Port Sudan between 4 and 7 May mark the first attacks in the city since April 2023. The strikes caused significant damage to key military, civilian, and energy infrastructure, and have heightened security concerns in what has been a relative safe zone since the start of the conflict. 

Port Sudan has functioned as a key hub for humanitarian operations and a refuge for civilians fleeing war since the start of the conflict in April 2023. The attacks mark a significant escalation that may further impact humanitarian access, which is already severely constrained. On 5 May, the United Nations (UN) Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq stated that UN Humanitarian Air Service flights to and from the city had been temporarily paused.

A subsequent statement on 6 May by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan Clementine Nkweta-Salam emphasised that Port Sudan International Airport serves as a primary entry point for aid workers and medical supplies. According to the BBC, commercial flights to Port Sudan have also been cancelled.

On the same day, the Sudan Electricity Media Coordination Council posted to Facebook stating that the targeting of the Port Sudan Converter station had resulted in a city-wide power outage. The outage has reportedly disrupted access to water, healthcare, and other essential services. CIR was unable to verify the claim.

The International Organisation for Migration Displacement Matrix (IOM DTM) reported that 120 households were displaced between 5 and 6 May from the Transit and Al Shahinat neighbourhoods in Port Sudan. CIR has not identified any confirmed reports of civilian casualties resulting from the attacks.

CIR has identified reports indicating that alleged drone attacks in Port Sudan, as well as other locations including in White Nile state, are ongoing. CIR will continue to monitor the situation. 

[1] The Marina Hotel is also referred to as the Coral Hotel. The Marina Hotel recently changed its name from Coral Hotel.

[2] See for example ‘Revealed: UAE deploys Israeli radar in Somalia under secret deal’, Middle East Eye, 24 April 2025.

[3] See for example Oryxspioenkop and War Noir