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Israeli media: One soldier killed, 11 wounded during the security incident in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, and the fate of the 4 soldiers remains unknown
Israeli media: IOF withdraw from Al-Zaytoun neighborhood
Israeli media: Face-to-face clashes with machine guns between Hamas and Israeli forces in Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City
Israeli media: Helicopters sent to evacuate troops from Al-Zaytoun are under heavy fire
Israeli media: A new security incident at an additional location in the Al-Zaytoun neighborhood, southeast of Gaza City
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Israeli media platform: In the second incident, two injured people were transported from Gaza, and we are awaiting the authorities to notify the families to provide additional details shortly
Israeli media platform: 3 security incidents reported in Gaza
Israeli media platform: A serious incident in Gaza... A dead soldier was evacuated under fire... and an additional evacuation helicopter was dispatched
Israeli media outlet: Fierce battles ongoing between our forces and "militants" in the Gaza Strip

Sudan says Abu Dhabi banned its planes from UAE airports

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Aug 2025 21:45
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The UAE has barred Sudanese aircraft from its airports, escalating tensions after Sudan cut ties over alleged UAE support for the Rapid Support Forces.

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  • Emirates planes taxi at the Dubai airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, November 22, 2023 (AP)
    Emirates planes taxi at the Dubai airport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, November 22, 2023. (AP)

The United Arab Emirates has officially barred Sudanese aircraft from landing at its airports, in a fresh escalation of tensions between the two countries, Sudan’s state news agency SUNA reported on Thursday.

Citing the UAE’s civil aviation authority, the agency noted that the Gulf state has implemented a blanket landing ban on all Sudanese flights. According to Sudanese authorities quoted by Reuters, the UAE also prevented a Sudanese aircraft from departing Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Sudanese officials expressed surprise at the decision, calling it “unexpected” and “concerning.” They added that they are working with airlines to “reprogram bookings for passengers traveling to and from the UAE.”

As of Thursday evening, Emirati officials had yet to issue a public response to Sudan’s statement.

Tensions between the two nations have been simmering for months. In May, Khartoum formally severed diplomatic ties with Abu Dhabi, accusing the UAE of backing the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) with advanced weaponry in the ongoing war that erupted in April 2023.

The UAE has denied direct involvement, but growing evidence, including leaked arms transfers and regional intelligence reports, has fueled accusations that the Gulf state is playing a destabilizing role in Sudan’s internal war.

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UAE escalating support for RSF

In a May statement shared by Sudanese Information Minister Khaled al-Aiseer and reported by Reuters, the council declared the UAE a "hostile state" and announced the closure of Sudan's embassy and consulate in the Emirates. 

"For over two years, the world has witnessed an act of aggression against Sudan's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and civilian safety by the UAE and its local proxy, the terrorist rebel militia known as the Rapid Support Forces, along with its political backers," the statement read. 

It further accused the UAE of escalating support for the RSF with sophisticated strategic weaponry following the group's battlefield defeats. 

These arms, the council said, were used to target critical infrastructure across Sudan, including oil and gas depots, the Port Sudan airport, electricity stations, and hotels, endangering the lives of millions of civilians and threatening both regional and Red Sea security. 

Army blames UAE for supplying drones

The RSF has not claimed responsibility for the recent strikes but has increasingly relied on drone warfare since its expulsion from Khartoum in March. The Sudanese army accuses the United Arab Emirates of supplying both basic and advanced drones to the RSF in violation of international law.

In recent weeks, RSF drone attacks have focused on civilian infrastructure in the country’s northeast, triggering large-scale power outages that have affected millions.

The International Court of Justice dismissed Sudan’s case against the UAE, which alleged the Gulf state was complicit in genocide through its backing of the RSF. The court cited a 2005 reservation by the UAE under the UN Genocide Convention, stating it had no jurisdiction to hear the case.

Sudan’s Foreign Ministry responded by stating it "respected" the court’s decision, while emphasizing the ruling “cannot legally be interpreted as a denial of the violations, nor does it represent any acquittal of the UAE from its involvement in genocide.”

  • United Arab Emirates
  • Abu Dhabi
  • Sudan
  • Sudanese armed forces
  • Rapid Support Forces
  • Khartoum

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