Drone Strikes Hit Key White Nile Infrastructure by Sudan’s RSF
On September 14, 2025, Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) carried out a series of coordinated drone strikes targeting critical infrastructure in the White Nile state. These attacks have intensified the ongoing conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), demonstrating the increasing role of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in modern warfare. Civilian and military facilities were hit, causing power outages, logistical disruption, and heightened humanitarian concerns.
Introduction
The utilization of drone strikes in Sudan’s conflict represents a significant shift in military tactics. Previously, ground operations dominated the fighting, but UAVs now allow the RSF to strike strategic locations with precision, reducing risk to their personnel while amplifying the impact on both military and civilian infrastructure. The September 14 attacks in the White Nile region targeted essential facilities, including power stations, airports, and military installations, highlighting the RSF’s growing operational capabilities.
Historical Context of Sudanese Conflict
Sudan has experienced decades of political instability and armed conflicts. Since April 2023, the ongoing war between the SAF and RSF has escalated into widespread violence across multiple states, including Khartoum, Darfur, and White Nile. The RSF, initially a paramilitary force, has grown in strength and tactical sophistication. Their adoption of drone strikes reflects a global trend of utilizing UAVs in asymmetric warfare, allowing smaller forces to inflict significant damage on well-equipped opponents.
The Drone Strikes Event
On the morning of September 14, 2025, the RSF launched drones targeting three critical sites in White Nile:
- Kenana Airbase and civilian airport
- Um Dabakir power station
- Military logistics depots along the Nile
The attacks caused widespread disruption, including power outages affecting hospitals, schools, and commercial services. Eyewitnesses reported multiple explosions and smoke rising from the affected sites. These drone strikes were highly coordinated, indicating careful planning and technological capability by the RSF.
Kenana Airbase and Airport
The Kenana airbase is crucial for SAF military operations, hosting aircraft and storing equipment essential for regional control. The drone strikes damaged the airstrip and nearby facilities, severely hindering SAF’s operational capabilities. By targeting the airport, the RSF effectively disrupted air transport, resupply missions, and troop movements, demonstrating a strategic focus on crippling the opponent’s mobility.
Um Dabakir Power Station
The Um Dabakir power station serves thousands of residents in the White Nile region. The drone strike led to large-scale power outages, affecting hospitals, schools, and businesses. Civilian infrastructure damage in drone strikes raises serious humanitarian concerns and questions about compliance with international humanitarian law. According to local reports, repair teams are working under dangerous conditions due to ongoing threats from further attacks.
Military Logistics Depots
The RSF also targeted military logistics depots along the Nile, striking supplies, ammunition, and vehicles. This caused logistical disruption for the SAF, slowing reinforcements and supply chains. Experts note that such drone strikes illustrate the shift toward precision attacks in modern conflicts, where the goal is not only destruction but also creating operational paralysis.
Humanitarian Impact
Drone strikes on civilian infrastructure directly affect daily life in White Nile. Hospitals operate on emergency power, schools suspend classes, and businesses face operational difficulties. International organizations, including the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), have warned that the continued use of drone strikes increases civilian vulnerability and the risk of casualties. For more detailed information on humanitarian response, visit UN OCHA.
International Reaction
The international community has expressed serious concern over the escalation of drone strikes in Sudan. The African Union, United Nations, and neighboring countries have called for an immediate ceasefire and adherence to international humanitarian law. The “Quad Mechanism,” involving the United States, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Egypt, proposed a three-month truce to allow humanitarian aid to reach affected populations. However, the RSF continued its drone attacks, signaling reluctance to halt operations.
Strategic Implications of Drone Warfare
The increasing deployment of drone strikes in Sudan demonstrates how UAV technology changes the dynamics of warfare. Precision attacks allow smaller forces to challenge traditional armies effectively. Analysts suggest that the use of drones by RSF could inspire similar tactics in other conflict zones globally. The targeting of civilian infrastructure, however, risks international condemnation and potential war crime allegations.
Technological Aspects
RSF drones appear to be lightweight UAVs capable of carrying explosive payloads. These systems are relatively low-cost compared to conventional aircraft, yet provide strategic advantages in urban and semi-urban environments. The drones’ ability to conduct surveillance and targeted strikes enables the RSF to maximize disruption while minimizing exposure to ground counterattacks.
Future Outlook
As drone strikes become more prevalent in Sudan, both the SAF and international actors may need to adopt counter-UAV technologies, strengthen air defense systems, and enhance intelligence capabilities. The humanitarian impact also demands greater international monitoring and rapid response mechanisms to protect civilians. The conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain, but drone strikes will likely continue to shape the operational environment significantly.
Conclusion
The September 14, 2025 drone strikes in Sudan’s White Nile region mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the RSF and SAF. These attacks highlight the increasing role of UAVs in modern warfare, the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, and the broader humanitarian implications. As the conflict continues, understanding the strategic and ethical dimensions of drone strikes is essential for policymakers, military planners, and humanitarian organizations.
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