Hemedti threatens to target regional Airports “aiding” Sudanese army

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leader, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo — widely known as Hemedti — has threatened to strike any regional airport that assists the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), warning neighboring countries against supporting government air operations.

In a recorded message from an undisclosed location, Hemedti declared: “Any airplane that takes off from any neighboring country—any airplane that is dropping supplies, bombing, or killing—any drone that takes off from any airport—for us, it is a legitimate target.” He added that, “Any aircraft, any drone that takes off from an airport — that airport, for us, is a legitimate target. Whoever wishes to continue, let him continue; and whoever wants to stop this wickedness, let him stop it.”

Hemedti’s threat came hours after RSF forces reportedly launched drone attacks on Khartoum International Airport early Tuesday, just a day before it was scheduled to reopen for domestic flights after more than two years of closure due to the ongoing war.

According to local witnesses, explosions were heard and smoke was seen rising from the airport. The Sudanese army said its air defenses intercepted several drones, though the extent of damage remains unclear, Sudan tribune reported.

The strike on Khartoum airport, coupled with Hemedti’s warning, is seen as a direct response to intensified SAF airstrikes on RSF-held areas in Darfur and Kordofan. The army has recently escalated aerial bombardments targeting RSF positions, while also conducting airdrops to support besieged government forces in Al-Fasher, which has remained under siege for over 500 days.

Hemedti condemned the airstrikes as “ethnic cleansing,” accusing the army of deliberately targeting civilians and tribal leaders to “erase tribes from the map.” His remarks could also be interpreted as an attempt to discourage both military and humanitarian air operations.

Hemedti, rose to prominence from the Janjaweed militias accused of atrocities in Darfur. Under his leadership, the RSF has been implicated in widespread human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings, ethnic targeting, and mass displacement amid the ongoing civil war.

Western governments — including the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom — have imposed sanctions on Hemedti and RSF-affiliated entities for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. These measures aim to restrict his access to international financial systems and to pressure the RSF to cease attacks on civilians.

Despite mounting international condemnation, Hemedti maintains close ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which has been accused of supplying funds and arms to the RSF as part of its regional strategy in the Red Sea corridor. The UAE’s alleged involvement has further complicated diplomatic efforts to broker peace in Sudan.

Tuesday’s statement was not Hemedti’s first threat against neighboring countries. Both the RSF and SAF have previously accused regional states of backing their rivals. In march this year, an SAF-aligned general warned Chad over its alleged support for Hemedti’s forces.