Sudan accuses UAE and Ethiopia of drone strikes on Khartoum airport

ALBAWABA- The Sudanese Armed Forces have accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of direct involvement in drone strikes targeting Khartoum International Airport and other areas across Sudan, in allegations that further escalate already fragile regional tensions.

In a joint press briefing, Sudanese military spokesperson Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab stated that the escalation began on 1 March 2026, with what the army described as hostile aerial sorties originating from Bahir Dar Airport in Ethiopia. 

According to the Sudanese Armed Forces, the drones targeted strategic and civilian sites across the White Nile, Blue Nile, and Kordofan regions, repeatedly violating Sudanese airspace through routes allegedly linked to the Ethiopian border.

🔴 Sudanese Armed Forces spokesperson vows a "twofold response" to what he described as #Ethiopia’s aggression.#Sudan #News pic.twitter.com/Q4MzdutLKN

— Abdallah Hussain (@ABDALLAH_HSS) May 4, 2026

The army further claimed it had recovered and analysed debris from a downed drone identified as model S88, asserting that forensic examination linked the aircraft to Emirati ownership. Sudanese officials said the pattern and frequency of the operations indicate sustained and coordinated drone activity, though the UAE and Ethiopia have not publicly confirmed the allegations.

The accusations have triggered diplomatic reactions across the region. Egypt condemned the reported strikes on Khartoum Airport as a violation of Sudanese sovereignty and a potential threat to international civil aviation. Saudi Arabia also expressed concern and solidarity with Sudan, calling for restraint and an immediate halt to foreign interference.

The developments come amid growing strain between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi over regional conflicts, particularly in Sudan and Yemen, where the two Gulf partners have increasingly diverged in their political alignments. While Saudi Arabia has moved closer to supporting Sudanese state institutions, the UAE has faced repeated accusations of backing rival armed factions, claims it has previously denied.

The crisis is unfolding alongside wider regional instability, including ongoing drone and missile attacks affecting Gulf security dynamics, further complicating already shifting alliances across the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. 

The Sudanese government has recalled its ambassador to Addis Ababa for consultations and warned of possible retaliation, signalling a sharp escalation in diplomatic and security tensions in the region.