Sudanese Army Shoots Down Drones Targeting Headquarters in Shendi

The Sudanese army used anti-aircraft missiles to shoot down drones targeting its headquarters in the city of Shendi on Tuesday, according to witnesses and military sources. The drones did not hit their target, and army sources said that none of the drones were successful.

The head of Sudan's army, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, had arrived in Shendi the previous day. It is unclear whether he remains in the area following the attack. The army is currently battling the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for control of the country.

This drone assault marks the third such attack targeting areas under army control. The cities of Atbara and al-Gedaref have also come under similar drone attacks in recent weeks. Both the army and the RSF have utilized drones in the ongoing conflict, which erupted a year ago. However, the RSF has not claimed responsibility for any of these assaults.

Why this matters: The war between the Sudanese army and RSF has led to dire warnings of famine, displaced millions, and resulted in thousands of casualties, as well as ethnic killings by the RSF and allied militias. The conflict threatens to further destabilize the region and exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

Residents of Shendi expressed heightened concern and panic in the wake of the latest drone attack. "The attacks have created panic in the town," local witnesses reported. There are mounting fears that the conflict may escalate to the city of al-Fashir, the army's last stronghold in the Darfur region, potentially triggering a catastrophic humanitarian situation.

Key Takeaways

• Sudanese army shot down drones targeting its HQ in Shendi using anti-aircraft missiles.
• Army chief Burhan was in Shendi when the attack occurred, but his current location is unclear.
• This was the third drone attack on areas under army control in recent weeks.
• The army-RSF conflict has led to a humanitarian crisis, with fears of further escalation.