Full Breakdown
Sudan Accuses Ethiopia and UAE of Drone Attacks on Khartoum Airport
5/9/2026, 1:32:53 AM
Drone Strikes and Diplomatic Fallout
On 4 May 2026, a series of UAVs struck Khartoum International Airport and nearby military sites. Sudan’s military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Asim Awad Abdelwahab presented flight-path data linking the drones to Ethiopia’s Bahir Dar airport and identified them as UAE-manufactured. Sudan recalled its ambassador to Addis Ababa and warned of a response.
Conflict Background and Main Actors
The Sudanese civil war, sparked in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has intensified drone use. Foreign minister Mohieddin Salem, army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and an unnamed UAE official are the principal actors. Disputes over al-Fashaga farmland and the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam add regional pressure.
Attack Data
Sudan recorded four drone strikes from 1 March to 4 May, including the airport raid. A downed UAV on 17 March bore serial S-88, traced to the UAE. Civilian casualties this year total five deaths in Omdurman; the Norwegian Refugee Council estimates over 700 deaths from drone attacks, while ACLED lists 59 000 war deaths overall.
Official Statements and Criticism
Sudan claimed ‘conclusive evidence’ linking Ethiopian launch sites and UAE-made drones. Ethiopia’s foreign ministry called the claim baseless and accused Sudan of backing Tigrayan mercenaries. The UAE called the accusations unfounded propaganda. U.S. adviser Massad Boulos urged an end to external support, and International Crisis Group’s Alan Boswell warned the tit-for-tat rhetoric could regionalise the war. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have accused the UAE of arming the RSF, a charge the Emirates denies.
On-the-Ground Reports and Gaps
Residents near Khartoum airport reported early-morning explosions, smoke and minor damage; Sudanese air defenses downed several UAVs and recovered one in El-Obeid, North Kordofan. Sudan’s claim relies on serial-number analysis of a single UAV; independent forensic verification and third-party satellite or radar data are absent.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What Ethiopia and the UAE have done is direct aggression against Sudan and won’t be met with silence,” — Brig. Gen. Asim Awad Abdelwahab
- “whoever attacks us will be met with a response” — Mohieddin Salem, Sudanese foreign minister
- “These fabrications are part of a calculated pattern of deflection – shifting blame to others to evade responsibility for their own actions – and are intended to prolong the war and obstruct a genuine peace process.” — Unnamed UAE official
- “If we confirm following investigations that the drones came from Ethiopia, we will take the necessary steps to keep Sudanese land and the Sudanese nation protected, in coordination with the international community,” — General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan
Outlook
Sudan has deployed troops and anti-aircraft units to the Blue Nile frontier. Ethiopia and the UAE say they are open to dialogue, while the United States and regional bodies urge a cease-fire and an independent investigation. The coming weeks will show if tensions broaden or stay contained.
