{"id":60747,"date":"2026-02-15T21:24:42","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T18:24:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/?p=60747"},"modified":"2026-02-15T21:24:42","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T18:24:42","slug":"intensified-drone-strikes-by-the-army-target-supplies-headed-to-yabus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/15\/intensified-drone-strikes-by-the-army-target-supplies-headed-to-yabus\/","title":{"rendered":"Intensified Drone Strikes by the Army Target Supplies Headed to Yabus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Report \u2013 Sudan Events<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sudanese army this week renewed intensive drone strikes on positions linked to rebel commander Joseph Toka in the Yabus area of Blue Nile State, as part of ongoing military operations in the region. The area has seen a continued presence of forces affiliated with the SPLM\u2013North faction led by Toka.<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to military sources, army drones struck supply convoys reportedly moving from Ethiopia toward a camp in Yabus. The strikes are said to have resulted in casualties, destroyed vehicles, and damaged weapons shipments allegedly delivered through Ethiopian territory to areas under Toka\u2019s control. The military campaign appears aimed at preventing what officials describe as efforts to expand hostilities toward eastern Sudan via the Sudanese\u2013Ethiopian border, particularly in southern Blue Nile.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A recent report by the regional monitoring platform \u201cIGAD Watch\u201d claimed that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia is seeking to open a new front in eastern Sudan, specifically around Ethiopia\u2019s Benishangul-Gumuz region. Ethiopia has acknowledged the existence of military camps in that area but maintains they belong to its national army and denies any connection to the RSF.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, media reports have alleged ongoing arms movements from within Ethiopia to the Yabus airstrip area, which is controlled by forces loyal to Joseph Toka. \u201cIGAD Watch\u201d said satellite imagery it collected showed cargo trucks traveling from Ethiopia to Yabus, where an airstrip has reportedly been constructed. The platform suggested the strip may be used to launch drones toward other areas and that some of the drones that recently targeted Sudanese military positions and urban infrastructure could have originated there.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The report further noted that Ethiopia\u2019s Assosa Airport lies approximately 30 kilometers from the Yabus airstrip and is undergoing what it described as unusual expansion and construction works, including hangars and runway upgrades. \u201cIGAD Watch\u201d argued that these developments appear to exceed civilian needs and may indicate a potential military role.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tracking of flight activity reportedly showed the recent arrival of three cargo aircraft larger than those typically received at the airport. According to the platform, closer inspection indicated the planes were capable of transporting vehicles and military equipment. It also claimed that Assosa Airport had previously received Mohajer-6, TB2, and Bayraktar drones during Ethiopia\u2019s internal conflict.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The report highlighted the existence of a 35-kilometer road linking Yabus and Assosa, describing it as a short and accessible route for the movement of weapons, personnel, combat vehicles, and drones. It further alleged that Ethiopia has established a militia camp in the region capable of accommodating thousands of fighters, though it has not yet been officially inaugurated. Weapons shipments are said to reach Assosa via the ports of Berbera in Somaliland and Mombasa in Kenya.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Ahmed Saad, a specialist in Horn of Africa affairs, expressed skepticism about direct Ethiopian involvement in the Sudanese conflict. \u201cA direct intervention would undermine Ethiopia\u2019s own security and create significant complications that decision-makers in Addis Ababa fully understand,\u201d he said. \u201cEthiopia cannot afford open hostility with Sudan or the transfer of conflict onto its territory, particularly given its need for Sudan\u2019s support or neutrality on multiple regional issues.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, Saad did not dismiss the possibility that Ethiopia might provide safe havens to the RSF. \u201cHistorically, the Ethiopian state has supported and provided logistical assistance to Sudanese opposition movements,\u201d he noted. \u201cAt the same time, it is widely known that Abdelaziz al-Hilu receives significant backing from South Sudan. If arms shipments were intended for him, they could be routed through airports in South Sudan that are already supportive of his movement.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Saad added that if the objective is to shift the battlefield to eastern Sudan, then Assosa and Yabus could indeed serve as operational hubs rather than mere transit points. \u201cBut such a move would primarily harm Ethiopia itself,\u201d he argued, pointing out that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is located in Benishangul-Gumuz. \u201cAny escalation there could make the dam vulnerable to air or drone strikes. Ethiopian leaders are aware of these risks, as well as the evolving relationship between Cairo and Khartoum and recent Egyptian references to joint defense agreements.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

He also noted the recent visit of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to Sudan as a significant geopolitical signal. \u201cAll these developments suggest Ethiopia will likely act with caution rather than overtly escalate its involvement,\u201d Saad concluded.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In contrast, military analyst Yasser Saad al-Din argued that Ethiopia\u2019s alleged complicity and interest in prolonging the war are evident. He called on the Sudanese government and army to expel al-Hilu\u2019s forces from Yabus, dismantle any operational platforms in the area, and prevent foreign interference before the situation deteriorates further.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cHistorically, Ethiopia has served as a staging ground affecting Sudan\u2019s national security,\u201d he said. \u201cIt has supported armed movements fighting the Sudanese army and continues to believe that backing such groups enhances its leverage over Sudanese territory and influence along the border.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Al-Din concluded that Ethiopia may attempt to support militia efforts to open a new front in eastern Sudan, potentially threatening civilian populations, cities, and key infrastructure, including the country\u2019s main port.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Report \u2013 Sudan Events The Sudanese army this week renewed intensive drone strikes on positions linked to rebel commander Joseph Toka in the Yabus area of Blue Nile State, as part of ongoing military operations in the region. The area has seen a continued presence of forces affiliated with the SPLM\u2013North faction led by Toka. …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":53118,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-60747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60747"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60748,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60747\/revisions\/60748"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/53118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sudanevents.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}