AIR STRIKE IN SUDAN
Newspapers in Israel were quick to point to their country’s involvement.
“IDF (the Israeli military) carried out an attack in Sudan” read the front page story in Israel’s top-selling Yediot Aharonot.
“Planes which approached from the Red Sea assassinated wanted men in Africa,” the newspaper’s strapline read.
The attack was also carried on the front page of Israel HaYom, a freesheet considered close to Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, which billed it as “Liquidation in Sudan”.
Conflicting reports
The Sudanese Media Centre, a news agency reportedly linked to Sudan’s state security apparatus, said the army had responded with missiles but the plane had managed to evade them.
The centre ”confirmed it was a foreign plane” but did not say where the plane came from, or where it went, and did not identify the two people killed.
A police official, meanwhile, suggested a missile had been fired from the sea.
A witness told the Reuters news agency that there was a heavy presence of security forces at the scene, between Port Sudan airport and the city, 660km northeast of Khartoum, the capital.
“They are preventing anyone from getting close. I can see one burnt-out car,” the witness said.
Another source at Port Sudan said three loud explosions had been heard.
“We went outside to see what was happening and witnesses told us they saw two helicopters which looked liked Apaches flying past,” the source said.
Previous ‘Israeli’ attack
In January 2009, a convoy of suspected arms smugglers was hit by unidentified aircraft, also in Red Sea State. That attack was also reportedly carried out by Israel – allegedly to stop weapons bound for Gaza. At least 40 people were reportedly killed in the incident, which was disclosed only two months after it occurred. State media said the death toll was 119.
via Israel blamed for Port Sudan air strike – Africa – Al Jazeera English.
