Saudi Arabia, Qatar, US, EU Condemn Khartoum Airport Drone Attacks; UAE and Ethiopia Deny Involvement

The international community responded to Sudan's May 5 accusations against the UAE and Ethiopia with a wave of condemnations and denials. Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United States, and the European Union all issued statements condemning the drone attacks on Khartoum International Airport, calling for a ceasefire and an end to external interference in Sudan's conflict. None of the condemning states endorsed Sudan's specific accusation that the drones were UAE-supplied and launched from Ethiopia. The UAE issued a formal denial of any involvement in the attack, reiterating its long-standing position that it does not supply weapons or support to any party in Sudan's civil war — contradicting UN sanctions monitors' reports from 2024 naming the UAE as an RSF backer. Ethiopia's Foreign Ministry, in a separate statement, rejected Sudan's 'baseless accusations,' countering that Sudan itself was supporting 'mercenaries' — a reference to alleged Sudan links with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) — and said the accusations violated Ethiopia's sovereignty. Al Jazeera published a detailed explainer on May 6 ('Sudan blames Ethiopia, UAE for recent drone attacks: What we know') laying out the evidence Sudan presented at the May 5 press conference, the regional geopolitical context, and the denials. The airport remained closed under the 72-hour suspension announced on May 5. The escalation represented a significant risk of direct state-to-state confrontation expanding the Sudan conflict beyond its borders, though all parties publicly stopped short of military action as of May 6.