An Ilyushin Il-76TD cargo aircraft belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) was observed at Massawa Airport in Eritrea for the first time since December 2025, according to AfriMEOSINT on X. An Antonov An-12 transport aircraft was also present alongside it, as reported in the post between 5:45 PM and 6:45 PM UTC on February 7, 2026. The Il-76TD is described as a recent acquisition for the SAF, with the observation marking its initial appearance at the Eritrean airport in over a month, per the AfriMEOSINT update. No further details on the aircraft's arrival time or purpose were provided in the source. This development occurs amid ongoing regional military activities, though no direct connection to Somali political events was noted in the report.
