Key Takeaways
- The Sudanese Army has launched drone attacks targeting Rapid Support Forces (RSF) sites in Southern South Kordofan, marking a continuation of intense aerial warfare in the region.
- Two people have been reported killed in protests and riots in the city of Lardegan in southwestern Iran, according to Iranian Fars News Agency and AFP, with unrest fueled by economic grievances.
- Yemen's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has vehemently condemned new Saudi measures imposing inspections via Jeddah Airport for all flights to and from Aden, deeming them inconsistent with international laws and set to increase Yemeni suffering.
- The new Saudi flight restrictions on Aden highlight a deepening rift within the Saudi-led coalition, particularly with the UAE, which has been accused of shipping weapons to rival factions in Yemen.
Sudan Escalates Drone Campaign Against RSF in South Kordofan
The Sudanese Army has reportedly deployed drones to target sites belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Southern South Kordofan. This action comes amidst an ongoing and brutal conflict in Sudan, characterized by extensive use of drone warfare by both sides. While specific details of the January 1, 2026, Sudanese Army strikes remain limited, the region has been a hotbed of recent hostilities.
In late December 2025, the RSF itself was accused of a drone strike in Dilling, South Kordofan, which reportedly killed at least 35 people, including soldiers, and damaged military and medical facilities. Earlier in December, RSF drone and artillery attacks in the same state resulted in nine civilian deaths and 17 injuries, hitting a military hospital and civilian areas. These incidents underscore the devastating impact of aerial attacks on both military targets and civilian populations, exacerbating a severe humanitarian crisis in the Kordofan states.
Deadly Protests Erupt in Southwestern Iran
Protests and riots have turned deadly in southwestern Iran, with reports from the Iranian Fars News Agency and AFP confirming that two people were killed in clashes in the city of Lardegan. The unrest, which also saw reports of similar incidents in Fasa, Fars Province, comes amid broader anti-regime demonstrations across the country.
These protests are reportedly fueled by a dire financial situation and economic collapse, with citizens expressing anger over the skyrocketing cost of living and the depreciating national currency. While authorities have denied fatalities in some reported protest areas, the consistent reporting of deaths by multiple news agencies highlights the volatile nature of the demonstrations and the government's response.
Yemen Condemns Saudi Airspace Restrictions on Aden
Yemen's Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has expressed strong condemnation and astonishment over "sudden Saudi measures" regarding flights at Aden Airport. The new Saudi decision mandates that all flights to and from Aden must be subjected to inspection via Jeddah Airport. The Yemeni Ministry argues that these measures are "entirely inconsistent with international laws and the laws of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)", which aim to facilitate global air transport.
The Ministry asserts that these restrictions will significantly "increase the suffering of Yemenis" and has demanded an immediate end to the aerial siege, a reversal of the new measures, and a return to previous flight mechanisms. This development follows a recent escalation of tensions between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, nominal allies in the Yemen conflict, after Saudi strikes on Al-Mukalla port and accusations of the UAE supplying weapons to the Southern Transitional Council (STC). The imposition of new flight inspections on Aden, a key city in southern Yemen, is seen as a direct consequence of this fracturing alliance and further complicates humanitarian access and civilian movement in the war-torn country.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.