Drone strikes hit South Darfur’s Nyala after cargo plane arrival

August 24, 2026 (NYALA) – Suspected Sudanese army drones struck several paramilitary Rapid Support Forces positions in Nyala on Monday, local sources said, hours after a large cargo aircraft landed in the South Darfur state capital.

The dawn strikes triggered heavy explosions across the city, hitting targets in the al-Riyadh neighbourhood, areas surrounding the airport, and the University of Nyala campus.

The attack came shortly after a large cargo flight touched down at Nyala airport late Sunday before departing a few hours later, local residents told Sudan Tribune.

The RSF reopened Nyala airport in September 2024. The hub has since handled near-daily flights arriving from bases in Chad, Libya, and Somaliland that local sources say operate under United Arab Emirates oversight.

The Sudanese armed forces have launched periodic aerial bombardments against the airfield in an effort to disable the runway and disrupt supply lines.

The RSF seized full control of Nyala in October 2023 and later established the city as a political headquarters for its allied “Tasis” coalition administration.

Residents reported tightened security and sweeping arrest campaigns by RSF fighters targeting civilians accused of espionage or providing intelligence on military sites to the army.