Drones… the Saudi-Egyptian War!!

As I See

Adil Al-Baz

1. When the UAE despaired of winning the war on the ground, it now seeks a strategic shift by introducing advanced drones into the battlefield—drones that are not accessible to rebels but only to state actors. Thus, the UAE is no longer just financing the war; it is actively waging it, openly and publicly, even in the skies.

2. The drones that attacked Port Sudan yesterday, striking the “Flamingo” base and army depots, and then again this morning targeting petroleum storage facilities in Port Sudan, are reportedly launched from the east—from the sea—specifically from the UAE’s Bosaso base in “Somaliland” (the breakaway region from Somalia). International reports have confirmed that this base is now used for arming militias, replacing “Um Jaras” in Chad after it was exposed and placed under international surveillance. Yesterday, videos circulated showing a Kenyan “Ilyushin” aircraft arriving at the Bosaso base carrying Colombian mercenaries headed for the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) at the Puntland military base.

3. Rear Admiral Mahjoub Bushra, commander of the Red Sea Military Region, revealed alarming details during an official briefing to diplomatic missions in Port Sudan. He accused the UAE of launching the terrorist drone attacks from military bases outside Sudan’s borders. He stated: “Technical and intelligence data analyzed after shooting down the drones clearly indicate they came from the east, from the direction of the Red Sea—not from the west or inland.” He added that this “strongly suggests the attack originated from one of the UAE’s military bases in Somali secessionist areas, such as Puntland or Somaliland.”

4. Prior to the Sudanese army’s conclusion via Rear Admiral Bushra, speculation suggested the drones had come from the “Al-‘Atrun” area near the Libyan-Sudanese border. The attacks were believed to involve coordination between short-range kamikaze drones launched from within 300 km of Port Sudan and a strategic drone with a range of up to 2,000 km.
Of course, Sudan will not remain passive or tolerate UAE aggression for long. Once Sudan responds, the Red Sea will undoubtedly flare up.
The increasing use of strategic drones represents a new element in the war, threatening to widen the conflict and transform the Red Sea from a safe commercial corridor into a battleground of unconventional technological warfare. This low-cost military escalation enables parties like the Houthis or Sudan to carry out significant attacks without massive resources or direct troop involvement. Whether launched from boats in the Red Sea or from the Puntland base, the drones mark a dangerous turning point in the Sudan-UAE war—posing a serious threat to international navigation in the Red Sea, a vital passageway through which 13% of global trade flows. Now it is threatened by both the Houthis and the UAE.

5. Saudi Arabia is now directly involved in the war due to Red Sea security concerns. The Red Sea is of utmost strategic importance to Saudi Arabia, with 70% of its trade passing through it—along with 13% of global trade.
Thus, it was notable that the statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs following the drone attacks on Port Sudan included, for the first time, an important reference:
“These acts represent a threat to regional stability and the national security of both Arab and African nations.”
Now Saudi Arabia faces two options to deal with this serious security and trade threat:
First: To pressure the UAE—using its known and proven methods—to halt any actions that threaten the Red Sea’s security, including the cessation of drone attacks on any part of its shores, including all Sudanese coastal areas. Saudi Arabia is obligated to take this stance, as what is happening constitutes a direct threat to its security and economy.
Second: To assist Sudan in defeating the rebellion and defending itself by providing it with effective means to protect its security, borders, and airspace.

6. Sudan will not be the biggest loser if the Red Sea ignites. Sudan’s trade—its imports and exports—barely reached $6 billion at its peak, and currently doesn’t exceed $2 billion.
By contrast, Saudi Arabia’s oil and non-oil exports generate roughly $1 billion USD in daily revenue.
Egypt too will be among the biggest losers if conflict erupts in the Red Sea, as we’ll explore in the next part of this article.

To be continued…