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Massive Explosions Rock Khartoum, Vicinity of the Presidential Palace

Smoke rises over Khartoum as clashes continue between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (AP)
Smoke rises over Khartoum as clashes continue between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (AP)
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Massive Explosions Rock Khartoum, Vicinity of the Presidential Palace

Smoke rises over Khartoum as clashes continue between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (AP)
Smoke rises over Khartoum as clashes continue between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (AP)

Massive explosions rocked the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and several air raids focused on areas controlled by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the city's southern neighborhoods.

According to eyewitnesses, huge flames were seen in the center of Khartoum and around the vicinity of the presidential palace, large parts of which had been previously destroyed by intensive air strikes.

Explosions were heard in the sports city and the central market, targeting the RSF.

The Rapid Support responded by launching an artillery attack on army positions at the headquarters of the General Command and the Armored Corps, according to sources.

Before that, the head of the Sovereign Council, Army Commander Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, left Thursday his main headquarters in central Khartoum, which the Rapid Support Forces surround from several sides.

Residents said the army's drones bombed RSF sites in several neighborhoods north of Bahri.

On Friday, the Sudanese army announced that it had responded to a new attack by the Rapid Support Forces on the headquarters of the Armored Corp, during which they suffered heavy losses.

-Freedom and Change warns

Meanwhile, leaders in the Forces of Freedom and Change warned against Burhan's decision to form a caretaker government, according to what his close circles reported.

A member of the Executive Office of the Forces, Yasir Arman, said on the X platform that the "remnants" are waiting for Burhan in Port Sudan to form a caretaker government to prolong the war and plunder public money.

Arman wondered if Burhan would fulfill their desires at the expense of the people.

Furthermore, the People's Liberation Movement - Revolutionary faction, led by Arman, confirmed in a statement signed by his deputy, Buthaina Dinar, that the armed forces helped extract Burhan from the military headquarters.

The statement warned that reports about Burhan's intention to form a government in Port Sudan under the leadership of the remnants will deepen national divisions.

The movement suggested holding extensive consultations with all national and democratic forces and unifying a negotiation platform with regional and international partners to end the war

-Fear of division

The statement cautioned that expanding the war will not resolve the issue, and there is an opportunity for the army commander to present a new agenda that meets the people's agenda.

It warned that forming a government in Port Sudan might lead to establishing a parallel authority. It noted that it was better to harness all national energies towards a peaceful solution leading to a civil and democratic transition.

Burhan, who is currently in the Nile River state, is expected to arrive in Port Sudan city soon before heading on a foreign tour to neighboring countries.

-US condemnation

Furthermore, the United States strongly condemned pervasive conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) in Sudan, which credible sources, including victims, have attributed to the RSF and their allied militias.

The US embassy in Khartoum said that “the numerous reports of rape, gang rape, and other forms of gender-based violence against women and girls in West Darfur and other areas are alarming.”

It warned that these “acts of brutality contribute to an emerging pattern of targeted ethnic violence.”

The US embassy echoed the UN Special Representative of Secretary-General Patten in calling on the RSF to condemn CRSV, commit to effective measures to prevent and address any acts of CRSV and declare zero-tolerance for sexual violence.

The statement called on the RSF and Armed Forces to immediately halt the fighting and allow safe passage for all civilians out of Nyala and South Darfur, asserting that “perpetrators of atrocities must be held accountable.”

“Accountability for sexual violence in conflict is a core priority for the US government, as reflected in the Presidential Memorandum signed by President Biden in November 2022, which directs the use of all available tools including legal, policy, diplomatic, and financial tools to deter such violence.”

On Friday, the US ambassador to Sudan, John Godfrey, stressed that the “belligerents, who have demonstrated they are not fit to govern, must end the conflict and transfer power to a civilian transitional government.”

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Arab World

Israel Army Withdraws After Hebron Operation, Says Military Official

A Palestinian man inspects the damage to his home in the Deir Baha area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on November 2, 2026, after returning following his displacement in an Israeli military operation last week. (AFP)
A Palestinian man inspects the damage to his home in the Deir Baha area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on November 2, 2026, after returning following his displacement in an Israeli military operation last week. (AFP)
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Israel Army Withdraws After Hebron Operation, Says Military Official

A Palestinian man inspects the damage to his home in the Deir Baha area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on November 2, 2026, after returning following his displacement in an Israeli military operation last week. (AFP)
A Palestinian man inspects the damage to his home in the Deir Baha area of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, on November 2, 2026, after returning following his displacement in an Israeli military operation last week. (AFP)

The Israeli army has pulled back following an operation in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron, launched in the wake of an attack that killed two soldiers in late October, a military official said Monday.

The operation had emptied a neighborhood in the West Bank's largest city where the two gunmen had lived. AFP journalists witnessed residents returning to their homes on Monday after the military left.

"This morning, following the completion of all operational activities, the soldiers withdrew from the area of operation in Hebron. Counterterrorism activities throughout Judea and Samaria continue," the official said, using the biblical name for the Palestinian territory.

On October 23, days ahead of close-fought Israeli elections, two Palestinian gunmen attacked an army checkpoint near Hebron, killing two soldiers and prompting promises of a major retaliatory operation from senior officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

By the following morning, the military had cleared out the residents of the assailants' neighborhood, displacing more than 3,000 people, according to the municipality.

The military official said that "soldiers conducted thorough searches of multiple locations, detained and questioned suspects, and located and confiscated four weapons, several vests, and additional military equipment".

They also demolished the two attackers' homes and "sealed an underground space located next to" one of them.

Muhannad al-Tamimi, whose house was occupied by soldiers since the operation began, told AFP his family came back to a trashed apartment with furniture and clothing strewn on the floors, mattresses overturned and a child's bicycle broken.

Arab World

Drone Strikes Hit 15 Power Stations Across Sudan in Days

Damage at the Al-Markhiyat power station north of Omdurman following a drone attack on October 28 (AFP). 
Damage at the Al-Markhiyat power station north of Omdurman following a drone attack on October 28 (AFP). 
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Drone Strikes Hit 15 Power Stations Across Sudan in Days

Damage at the Al-Markhiyat power station north of Omdurman following a drone attack on October 28 (AFP). 
Damage at the Al-Markhiyat power station north of Omdurman following a drone attack on October 28 (AFP). 

Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have continued drone attacks on electricity infrastructure in army-controlled areas, targeting power generation plants and substations across the country, causing widespread electricity and water outages and raising fears of a partial collapse of the national grid.

The escalating strikes have also threatened hospital operations and agricultural projects, with warnings of severe consequences if the attacks continue at their current pace.

Reports indicate that around 15 stations were targeted between October 20 and November 1, while the Emergency Lawyers group said Sunday that 15 facilities had been attacked in October alone.

Early Sunday, drones launched simultaneous strikes on the Abu Hamad substation in River Nile State and the Al-Dabbah station in Northern State, according to eyewitnesses. Local sources said fuel facilities in Northern State were also hit.

River Nile State Governor Mohammed al-Badawi said after inspecting the site that a drone strike had completely destroyed the Abu Hamad substation, cutting electricity supplies across the state.

The attacks came less than 24 hours after drones targeted the Haya substation, still under construction in Red Sea State, along with oil transportation facilities.

Warnings of a Nationwide Blackout

Former Sudanese Energy Minister Adel Ibrahim warned that most major electricity substations had been bombed and taken out of service, leaving, by his estimate, only three principal stations: Merowe Dam and Atbara in northern Sudan, and Maranjan in Wad Madani, the capital of Al-Jazira State.

“If electricity stations continue to be targeted at this rate, complete darkness will engulf the country,” Ibrahim told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He cautioned that repairing the damage and restoring operations could take considerable time, while replacing destroyed transformers and other equipment would involve substantial costs.

Substations play a critical role in connecting power generation facilities to consumers. Their destruction can therefore leave entire cities and states without electricity even when generating plants remain operational.

Ten States Affected

Reports show that the attacks have spread to 10 of Sudan’s 18 states, with White Nile and Gedaref recording the highest number of targeted facilities, at three each. Five states in Darfur under RSF control were not targeted.

In White Nile State, drones struck the Tendelti, Mashkoor and Um Dabakir thermal power stations. In Gedaref, attacks hit Al-Hawata and Al-Faw, along with other electricity facilities cited in reports.

Al-Jazira State saw strikes on the Al-Junayd and Al-Managil stations, while Shendi and Abu Hamad were targeted in River Nile State.

In Sennar State, the Singa station came under attack. Other strikes hit Al-Markhiyat, northwest of Omdurman in Khartoum State; Haya in Red Sea State; and Al-Dabbah in Northern State.

There were also reports of an attack on an electricity facility in Kadugli, South Kordofan State.

White Nile and Gedaref thus topped the list in terms of sites mentioned in the reports, although the absence of standardized technical data makes it impossible to rank states by the scale of damage or duration of outages.

The wave of attacks began on October 20 with a strike on Tendelti before expanding on October 26 to Singa, Al-Hawata, Al-Faw, Mashkoor and Al-Junayd.

Al-Markhiyat was hit the following day, followed by Al-Managil on October 28, Um Dabakir on October 29, Shendi on October 30 and Haya on October 31.

The latest strikes targeted Abu Hamad and Al-Dabbah early Sunday.

Accusations Against Ethiopia

The Sudanese government has accused the RSF of carrying out the attacks and Ethiopia of allowing its territory to be used to launch drones against facilities inside Sudan.

On Saturday, the Foreign Ministry briefed diplomatic missions on the allegations, identifying locations inside Ethiopia that it said were being used to support drone operations.

During a recent visit to Moscow, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem also accused Ukrainian military personnel of assisting the RSF and training its members to operate drones.

The expanding geographical reach, frequency and precision of some strikes suggest that the paramilitary group possesses substantial numbers of long-range drones and increasingly sophisticated operational capabilities.

Emergency Lawyers said the attacks had disrupted electricity and water supplies and threatened healthcare services, worsening civilian suffering.

On Saturday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the escalation of drone attacks by both sides in Sudan’s war, expressing shock at their devastating impact on civilians.

His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said the strikes had killed hundreds of civilians, including women and children, across Sudan and the Abyei region.

Guterres stressed the need to protect civilians and critical infrastructure, including healthcare facilities, and urged both parties to immediately cease hostilities and engage seriously in mediation efforts to end the war.

The attacks have raised growing concerns about hospitals’ ability to operate medical equipment, maintain drinking water supplies and keep irrigation projects running, particularly as the winter agricultural season approaches.

Sudan’s electricity sector has suffered extensive damage since the war erupted in April 2023, affecting thermal generation units, transmission stations, transformers and power lines.

The latest strikes have placed further strain on an already weakened grid struggling with equipment shortages, maintenance difficulties and limited funding.

Arab World

Israeli Reports Heighten Lebanese Fears of Another War

Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, Southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, Southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)
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Israeli Reports Heighten Lebanese Fears of Another War

Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, Southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)
Israeli heavy machinery bulldozes houses in Mansouri, as seen from Hinniyeh, Southern Lebanon, September 19, 2026. (Reuters)

Israeli reports of military preparations for a possible offensive in South Lebanon have heightened fears among Lebanese officials and residents of another war, amid continuing Israeli attacks, mounting domestic political tensions and uncertainty over Hezbollah’s response to any renewed regional confrontation.

Lebanon faces the prospect of a third war, with concerns that Hezbollah could once again draw the country into a conflict in support of Iran, as it has done in the past.

Israel’s Maariv newspaper reported that the Israeli military was preparing for the possible occupation of three major cities in South Lebanon - Tyre, Sidon and Nabatieh - if war with Iran resumes and Hezbollah joins the fighting.

Israeli assessments believe that Tehran could activate several fronts simultaneously, including Lebanon, it said.

Tel Aviv was taking the possibility of Hezbollah’s involvement seriously, despite assessing the group’s military capabilities as weakened, and was preparing to deploy “extremely heavy firepower,” it added.

The scenarios outlined by Maariv include intensified strikes across large parts of Beirut’s southern suburbs, a naval blockade of the ports of Beirut and Tripoli, and attacks on coastal cities followed by possible ground advances.

Lebanese concerns

Lebanese ministerial sources expressed alarm over the reports, warning that another Israeli offensive could not be ruled out.

“There is no doubt that the situation is worrying. We cannot exclude the possibility of Israel launching another war against Lebanon, particularly if Hezbollah fails to honor its promise, as it has done before, and once again enters the conflict,” the sources told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Israeli threats are nothing new. Officials in Tel Aviv have repeated them many times, placing us before a genuine danger. Unfortunately, we may reach the point where the plans being discussed in the media are carried out,” they added.

Riad Kahwaji, a researcher specializing in security and defense affairs, said the Maariv report should be taken seriously.

“The threat clearly concerns the entire South, without distinguishing between areas north and south of the Litani River. It extends to the occupation of all of South Lebanon and, inevitably, parts of the western Bekaa if Hezbollah decides to join the fight,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Kahwaji noted that Israel was already preparing for such an operation because it expects Hezbollah to intervene. “Israel fully understands that Hezbollah will enter the confrontation and is preparing for an operation of this kind,” he said.

“Hezbollah has not disappointed the Israelis so far, particularly Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. Each time, it acts as the other side expects, allowing Israel to expand the territory under its occupation,” he remarked.

He warned that any subsequent Israeli withdrawal would take place on Israel’s terms, leaving Lebanon to accept the conditions imposed.

Kahwaji urged the Lebanese government to accelerate efforts to bring all weapons under state control and called on Shiite community leaders to take a decisive position on Hezbollah and its arsenal.

“This threat must serve as an incentive for the Lebanese government to speed up its work and become more active on the issue of bringing weapons under state control,” he noted. “We cannot ignore this threat and wait for disaster to strike again.”

Looking ahead, Kahwaji predicted that another war appeared inevitable after the US elections, citing remarks Saturday by Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei reaffirming the unity of regional fronts.

His statement contradicted reports that Hezbollah would stay out of any future confrontation, added Kahwaji.

Al-Rahi calls for Lebanon to stay out of regional conflicts

Amid growing fears of a third war, Lebanese figures have renewed calls to keep the country out of regional confrontations.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi stressed during Sunday Mass that preventing Lebanon from being dragged into another war had become a major national responsibility.

He warned that the Lebanese people could not withstand another conflict and insisted that decisions on war and peace must rest with the state rather than multiple competing authorities.

Al-Rahi also reiterated the need to place weapons exclusively under the control of the state and its legitimate institutions.

The warnings come as Israeli attacks continue across South Lebanon, maintaining military pressure despite concerns over a wider escalation.

Social Affairs Minister Haneen Sayed visited the town of Froun in the Bint Jbeil district to inaugurate a center and hand over several prefabricated housing units intended to shelter displaced families.

While delivering remarks at the inauguration ceremony, Israeli warplanes struck the town of Qoussair with two missiles. Sayed interrupted her speech upon hearing the explosion and recorded the strike on her phone before resuming her address.

She stressed the importance of supporting displaced people, strengthening humanitarian and social assistance, and providing shelters and essential supplies to affected families.

Israeli artillery also shelled the outskirts of Aita al-Jabal, the Baraashit-Kounine area and Bani Hayyan.