KHARTOUM—China’s embassy in Sudan has issued an urgent call for all Chinese nationals to leave the country without delay as intense fighting and a dangerous breakdown of security grip the nation. The warning, delivered in a public statement Thursday, reflects the escalation of Sudan’s internal conflict—a crisis whose effects ripple far beyond its borders, amplifying regional instability and directly impacting Israel’s strategic calculations in its defense against Iranian-backed terror networks on multiple fronts.
Sudan’s security crisis reached new levels after outbreak of armed hostilities in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), commanded by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (‘Hemeti’). What began as a bitter power struggle between former allies has devolved into a catastrophic civil war, resulting in the deaths of over 12,000 civilians, mass displacement, and the near-total collapse of central authority in the capital, Khartoum, and other urban centers, according to United Nations reports. Countless civilians are now at the mercy of armed groups, with lawlessness fueling a range of violence including abductions, extortion, and attacks on foreign nationals.
China’s evacuation order follows similar advisories by several countries and represents a critical moment for foreign nationals, investors, and aid agencies in Sudan. China, which has extensive economic holdings in Sudanese oil, minerals, and infrastructure, described the current climate as ‘extremely dangerous’ and emphasized the impossibility of providing even minimal security for its citizens.
The security void in Sudan has created an opening for external actors, notably Iran and its network of proxies across the region. Israeli intelligence and international security analysts have reported a resurgence of Iranian activity in Sudan. Iranian arms shipments—a longstanding threat that was temporarily checked after Sudan joined normalization talks with Israel in 2020—have reemerged as Sudan’s borders and key facilities fall outside government control. Terrorist organizations benefitting from this instability include Hamas, the Houthis in Yemen, and affiliates operating under the supervision of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
These developments are of great concern to Israeli and regional security officials, who have long viewed Sudan as a major corridor for weapon smuggling and terror financing. Intelligence sources confirm that, during previous bouts of lawlessness in Sudan, Iranian-provided arms moved by sea to Sudan and overland into Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, eventually reaching terror groups in Gaza via sophisticated smuggling networks. The resurgence of RSF-aligned militias and criminal elements has seen these routes revived, threatening Israel’s southern border and enabling further terror attacks against Israeli civilians—such as those carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the deadliest antisemitic massacre since the Holocaust.
The situation in Sudan jeopardizes not only local and foreign civilian populations but also regional stability across Egypt, Chad, South Sudan, and the Red Sea corridor. Egypt, in particular, is deeply alarmed by the potential for mass refugee flows and terror infiltration. Collaborative efforts between Israeli and Egyptian security apparatuses have intensified, resulting in record seizures of advanced weaponry traced back to Sudan, destined for Gaza and contributing to attacks that have forced Israel to conduct defensive military operations.
The United States, under continued policy engagement with both Israel and regional partners, has described the situation in Sudan as a test of international resolve in countering Iran’s destabilizing reach. The risk of Sudan transforming into a sanctuary for Iranian-backed groups has sharpened the priorities of American and Israeli security planners. Washington and Jerusalem are working to share intelligence, limit the export of violence, and support regional partners in containing the fallout, but the absence of a coherent national government in Sudan severely constrains diplomatic and humanitarian action.
Humanitarian agencies operating in the region face unprecedented challenges, as United Nations and Red Crescent personnel operate under constant threat. The World Food Programme and others have condemned attacks on convoys and aid workers, further complicating the crisis and limiting relief for millions driven from their homes. Analysts predict a growing wave of refugees and economic migrants from Sudan will place additional strain on North African and Middle Eastern neighbors, raising the potential for further recruitment into terror organizations exploiting the chaos.
Sudan’s slide into violence also endangers the progress achieved through the Abraham Accords and subsequent normalization efforts, in which Sudan had previously pledged to cut ties with terror groups and support regional peace. As that framework collapses in the face of renewed fighting, the threat that Iranian-backed militias and global jihadist cells will entrench themselves in Sudan becomes acute, necessitating vigilance from Israel and its allies. The risk is not hypothetical; multiple instances of Iranian influence and arms trafficking in recent months have been directly linked to the resurgence of terror operations across the Middle East.
Israeli officials, including those responsible for border defense and intelligence operations, emphasize that Israel’s doctrine of preemptive and proactive defense will continue to guide its approach to the Sudan crisis. Preventing the establishment of terror staging grounds, intercepting arms shipments, and collaborating with allies on border security remain high priorities. The October 7 attack, carried out by Hamas terrorists who murdered, sexually abused, and kidnapped innocent civilians in the most lethal attack against Jews since the Holocaust, has only deepened Israel’s resolve to address threats at their source.
In summary, the evacuation of foreign nationals, including Chinese citizens, marks a new and troubling phase in Sudan’s descent into anarchy. For Israel and its allies, Sudan’s instability is a stark warning of how failed states become foci for Iranian aggression and a reminder that, in the ongoing war for regional security, the defense of innocent life and the prevention of terror cannot be limited by borders. Israel’s vigilance and commitment to self-defense, against a backdrop of shifting regional fault lines, will remain central as Sudan’s crisis continues to unfold.
