Israel Monitors Egyptian Military Moves on Sudanese Border Amid Gold Mining Clashes

Israeli security and military agencies have expressed serious concern over recent escalations along the Sudanese border, responding with heightened sensitivity to any Egyptian military actions in the area.

The Israeli platform "Kikar" reported a sudden calm in the traditional gold mining fields of Jabal Al-Aqeedat, northeast of Atbara in Sudan, on Tuesday after a series of Egyptian airstrikes. According to the platform, at least 15 people were killed and more than 50 injured in these deadly aerial attacks targeting a gold mining site near the Egyptian border.

Witnesses and mine workers at the site told the platform that unidentified aircraft, believed to be drones, launched three missiles toward the mining locations. Field reports indicated that the area had been under close surveillance for a week before the assault, with drones photographing the sites prior to the precise bombardment. One survivor among the miners described the missile strikes as causing dozens of casualties.

Videos circulated from the scene showed missile debris and a small mosque constructed by the miners, which was completely destroyed during the bombing. Sudanese miners and local political figures openly accused the Egyptian military of being behind the attacks, according to the platform.

The platform further stated that the airstrikes were justified by claims that the miners had encroached on lands linked to Egyptian mining companies. While previous clashes between Egyptian ground forces and Sudanese miners had occurred, the use of airstrikes inside Sudanese territory marked an unprecedented escalation, the platform claimed.

The attacks caused widespread fear, leading to the displacement of approximately 6,000 miners from the bombed areas toward the Ansari market, about 200 kilometers away. Criticism of Sudanese authorities was strong, particularly regarding their handling of the wounded, who were transported by trucks to hospitals in critical condition.

The Sudanese People's Party condemned the attack and sharply criticized the authorities for their silence in the face of violence against unarmed miners on sovereign land. Up to this point, no official entity has claimed responsibility for the airstrikes, but tensions on the Sudanese-Egyptian border have reached a boiling point, threatening to ignite a larger conflict over desert gold resources.

Earlier, Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris, known for his substantial investments in mining, publicly thanked the Egyptian armed forces for their intervention against Sudanese mining gangs that crossed the border. On his social media page "X," Sawiris wrote on Saturday evening: "Salute, thanks, and appreciation to our armed forces for responding to the call of companies and workers in Egypt's mining sector in confronting the crimes of illegal mining gangs, enforcing state authority, and deporting foreign miners outside the homeland."

He added: "Thanks also to the Minister of Petroleum, as this will lead to increased global investments in mining and a boost in the state's resources."

Israel is closely monitoring any Egyptian military movements, especially along the southern borders. It views such operations—even those aimed at securing Egypt's southern boundaries in areas like Halayeb and Shalateen or the Sudanese border—as indicators of Egypt's advancing military capabilities and expanding regional influence.

Israeli security circles fear that these developments could set precedents allowing Cairo to deploy forces or conduct operations beyond its immediate geographic limits, potentially altering the deterrence balance and providing Egypt with an additional strategic leverage in the region. This concern drives Tel Aviv to vigilantly observe every Egyptian military step in the south.