Port Sudan, previously untouched by war, was hit by RSF drone strikes as Sudan’s civil conflict intensifies between rival military factions.

Sudan’s military announced on Sunday that Port Sudan, the eastern coastal city which has served as the government’s temporary seat of power since war erupted in 2023, was targeted in a drone attack by paramilitary forces.

According to a statement from army spokesman Nabil Abdullah, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched suicide drone strikes against the Osman Digna Air Base, a warehouse used for goods, and several civilian facilities in Port Sudan.

Abdullah confirmed there were no casualties in the attack, though limited damage was sustained.

An AFP correspondent reported that explosions in the morning shook his residence, located roughly 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) north of the city’s airport. Simultaneously, social media was flooded with unverified video footage showing a massive explosion and a billowing plume of smoke.

The regular Sudanese army currently controls the central, eastern, and northern regions of the country, while the RSF holds strong influence in the vast western area of Darfur and parts of the south.

At the onset of the conflict, the government relocated from Khartoum to Port Sudan, effectively making it the interim capital. Until this latest attack, Port Sudan had remained untouched by the violence that has ravaged other parts of the country over the past two years. The assault suggests the RSF has enhanced its capability and range in launching drone attacks, even after being pushed out of key territories including most of the capital, Khartoum.

Sudan's civil war began two years ago amid a fragile attempt to transition to democracy following the ousting of longtime autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019.

Initially, the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF were allies, joining forces to remove al-Bashir from power. Under the leadership of General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan for the Sudanese army and General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo—widely known as Hemedti—for the RSF, both factions agreed to participate in a civilian-led transitional government.

However, in October 2021, the two generals jointly staged a coup, halting Sudan's progression toward civilian governance. Hemedti assumed the role of deputy under Burhan’s leadership.

The alliance between the two leaders eventually broke down when Hemedti refused to integrate his RSF forces into the national army, a disagreement that sparked the ongoing civil war.

Both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF have been accused of committing war crimes and breaching international humanitarian laws. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced more than 12 million people, contributing to what is widely regarded as the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis.