More than 100 people have been killed in a fresh wave of drone strikes across Sudan, as the country’s long running war continues to take a heavy toll on civilians.
The attacks targeted areas held by both the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), with some of the deadliest strikes recorded in West Kordofan and South Darfur.
The worst attack occurred on Sunday evening in Al Dibab, a town in southwestern West Kordofan controlled by the RSF. A drone struck a transport hub near a market where residents had gathered to find vehicles home after market day.
Residents and medical workers said about 80 people were killed in the attack. Ahmed Abakar Wadi, a local resident who helped bury some of the victims, said at least 50 bodies were recovered from the scene, including that of his brother.
A medical source said 47 injured people were taken to nearby Al Mujlad for treatment, but 30 of them later died from their injuries.
Wadi said the drone struck the area twice, with the second attack coming about 10 minutes after the first.
The RSF’s self declared administration, known as Tasis, and Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers blamed the military for the attack. The army has not publicly commented on the allegation.
The attack was among the deadliest reported in Kordofan, an oil rich region that has become a major battleground between the military and the RSF as both sides fight for control of strategic territory.
Hours later, another drone strike hit Nyala, the capital of South Darfur and a major RSF stronghold. Medical and RSF sources said 17 people, including seven RSF officers, were killed after a drone struck the city centre and destroyed two homes. Twenty three others were reportedly wounded.
The violence also reached Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, on Monday morning. A drone hit a house in a neighbourhood east of Khartoum airport, killing four people, including three children aged between two and six, according to a medical source.
An army official said Sudanese air defences had intercepted RSF drones targeting the airport and surrounding areas.
Further east, military sources said several RSF drones were intercepted while targeting the Atbara and Setit dams in Gedaref State, about 420 kilometres from Khartoum.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the military and the RSF. The war has devastated communities across the country, leaving millions displaced and facing severe food shortages.
The overall death toll remains uncertain, but aid workers estimate that more than 200,000 people have died since the conflict began. The United Nations has also reported that more than 1,100 people were killed in drone attacks across Sudan during the first half of the year alone.
