The denial follows a high-stakes press conference held by Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem and military spokesperson Asim Awad Abd al-Wahab on May 5.
1. The Ethiopia Launch SiteSudanese officials claimed to have tracked drones entering their airspace from Bahir Dar Airport in Ethiopia. They alleged that these Turkish-made drones were purchased by the UAE and operated from Ethiopian soil to target the capital’s newly re-opened airport.
2. Serial Number “S88″The Sudanese military presented technical data identifying a specific drone with the serial number S88. The Claim: Khartoum asserts this drone is Emirati property and was previously involved in strikes in the Blue Nile and Kordofan regions before being intercepted. The Intent: Sudan believes the attack was designed to halt the distribution of humanitarian aid and disrupt the first domestic flights that had recently resumed at the
Analysis: A New Front in the Drone War
The May 4 attack signifies a dangerous escalation. By accusing both the UAE and Ethiopia, the Sudanese government is signaling that the civil war is no longer a domestic struggle but a regionalized conflict.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Qatar have all issued statements condemning the airport strike, warning against foreign interference that could “prolong the suffering of the Sudanese people.”
Final Thought
As of May 7, 2026, flights at Khartoum International Airport remain suspended. While the UAE maintains its innocence, the “evidence” presented by Khartoum has placed the Gulf state under renewed international pressure, including calls from U.S. Congressmen for American corporations to reassess their business partnerships with Emirati entities.
