Drone Attack Targets Sudan’s Largest Naval Base Amid Rising Tensions in Port Sudan

In the early hours of Wednesday, Port Sudan — a key city on Sudan’s eastern coast — came under attack as drones targeted Flamingo Naval Base, the country’s largest naval installation. According to a military source cited by AFP, Sudanese air defenses responded swiftly, with residents reporting loud anti-aircraft fire and explosions that echoed across the city for nearly 30 minutes.

This incident follows a series of escalating drone strikes over recent days that have hit strategic sites across Port Sudan. Targets have included the city’s international airport, gas storage facilities, port infrastructure, a power substation, hotels, and government buildings. The attacks, carried out using precision drones, remain unclaimed by any group.

The wave of assaults has caused widespread disruption, with eyewitnesses describing a paralyzed city: mass displacement, fuel station congestion, and a near-total power outage. The city and surrounding areas are struggling to supply fuel to their main power source — a floating electricity barge stationed in the Red Sea.

Since the outbreak of war in Sudan in April 2023, tens of thousands have been killed and more than 13 million displaced, with the United Nations calling it the “world’s worst humanitarian crisis.”

Port Sudan has served as a de facto administrative hub since the war began, housing critical infrastructure including Sudan’s main seaport. The intensifying attacks on the city raise growing concerns over further deterioration of the country’s fragile security and humanitarian situation.