The sources asked for anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information.

The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) had previously used older unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the conflict, but with limited success against RSF fighters hiding in populated areas.

The acquisition and use of the newer Iranian-made UAVs have given the SAF a decisive advantage.

In January, effective drones began operating from the army's base north of Khartoum, monitoring and targeting RSF movements, and pinpointing artillery strikes in Omdurman.

Residents reported that the army's use of precise drones forced the RSF to flee and allowed for ground deployments.

The extent of the army's deployment of Iranian UAVs in Omdurman and other areas has not been previously reported, but Bloomberg and Sudanese media have reported the presence of Iranian drones in the country.

A senior Sudanese army source denied that Iran directly supplied the Sudanese military with Iranian-made drones, but declined to provide details on how they were obtained.

The source noted that Sudan had previously developed such drones through joint military programs with Iran before their relationship ended in 2016.

Reuters was unable to independently confirm the details of the drones.

Sudan's acting foreign minister Ali Sadeq, who visited Iran last year, stated that Sudan did not acquire any weapons from Iran.

Neither the Sudanese army's media department nor Iran's foreign ministry responded to requests for comment.

Despite diplomatic cooperation between Sudan and Iran being restored last year, official military cooperation is still pending.

The Reporters Without Borders (RSF) organization acknowledged suffering setbacks in Omdurman, Sudan, and accused the army of receiving Iranian drones and weapons.

The RSF did not provide evidence for their claims.

Iran's support for Sudan's army aims to strengthen ties with the strategically located country on the Red Sea, which is a site of competition between global powers.

Sudan lies on the Red Sea coast and provides Iran a staging post.

In return, Iran supports the Houthis in Yemen, who have launched attacks in support of Hamas in Gaza.

The Sudanese army has made recent territorial advances, which are the most significant since the fighting began in Sudan's capital last April.

A war between Sudan's army, led by General Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), headed by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, has led to millions experiencing extreme hunger, the world's largest displacement crisis, and ethnically-driven killings and sexual violence in Darfur, western Sudan.

UN experts claim that neighboring countries like Chad, Libya, and South Sudan, as well as the United Arab Emirates, have provided support to the RSF.

The army's victory in Omdurman enabled them to launch attacks using drones, artillery, and troops in Bahri, north of Khartoum, to seize control of the Al Jaili oil refinery.

The army has admitted to recruiting thousands of volunteers to aid their efforts.

Sudan's relationship with Iran was strong under former President Omar Al-Bashir, but he turned to Iran's Gulf rivals for economic support before his ousting in 2019, leading to a strained relationship with Tehran.

Amin Mazajoub, a former Sudanese general, revealed that Sudan had previously manufactured weapons with Iran's help and repurposed drones for use in the war.

However, Mazajoub did not specify the source of the drones used in recent combat.

A regional source close to Iran's clerical rulers claimed that Iranian MoHajjer and Ababil drones had been transported to Sudan several times since late last year by Iran's Qeshm Fars Air.

The Iranian Ministry of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.

In December 2023 and January 2024, a Boeing 747-200 cargo plane operated by Qeshm Fars Air made six trips from Iran to Port Sudan, according to flight tracking records obtained by Wim Zwijnenburg of Dutch peace organization Pax and given to Reuters.

These flights have not been reported before.

Qeshm Fars Air, which is under US sanctions, did not respond to emails and phone calls from Reuters.

A photo from satellite imaging company Planet Labs shows a Boeing 747 with a wingspan consistent with a 747-200 at Port Sudan airport on Dec. 7, the date of the first tracked flight.

A MoHajjer-6 drone was spotted at Wadi Sayidna base in Sudan in a January satellite image, according to Zwijnenburg.

The Sudanese military (RSF) claimed they were receiving regular cargo plane deliveries of Iranian drones and weapons.

The RSF intelligence reportedly showed deliveries of MoHajjer-4, MoHajjer-6, and Ababil drones to Port Sudan.

The RSF has shot down several drones but did not provide evidence for the deliveries.

This arms deal with Iran could potentially strain relations between the Sudanese military and the United States, which is pushing for peace negotiations in Sudan, fearing increased Iranian or extremist influence in the country.

US Special Envoy for Sudan Tom Perriello expressed this concern in an interview.

The US State Department has stated that they are monitoring reports of Iranian support for the Sudan conflict and oppose external involvement that could worsen and prolong the conflict, potentially leading to more regional instability.