SAF Air Defenses Intercept RSF Long-Range Drone Over White Nile State

The Sudanese Armed Forces announced the interception of a long-range RSF drone over White Nile State on May 31, 2026, following a series of RSF aerial attacks on towns and vital facilities in the region. SAF air defense units engaged and shot down the incoming drone before it could strike its intended target. The interception demonstrates SAF's improving counter-drone capabilities in White Nile State, a critical rear-area logistics zone connecting Khartoum to southern Sudan. RSF has mounted repeated drone attacks on White Nile State throughout spring 2026 — including the Al-Jabalain Hospital strike (April 3, killing 10 including 7 medical staff), Rabak medical depot strike (April 3–4), SAF 18th Infantry Division HQ and Kenana airbase (April 29), Kenana fuel station (May 3), and Kosti fuel stations (May 5, killing 5). The May 31 interception is the first publicly confirmed SAF drone shoot-down over White Nile State since the escalation of RSF attacks in spring 2026. SAF has progressively deployed anti-drone systems to protect rear-area infrastructure as RSF extended its drone reach to 800+ km.