Sudan army accuses RSF of deadly drone strikes on civilians in North Kordofan
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said the RSF carried out suicide drone attacks on Saturday evening in El Obeid, North Kordofan’s capital, damaging Al-Dhaman Hospital, residential areas, and other service facilities.
The Sudanese army on Sunday accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of launching drone strikes on civilian targets in North Kordofan State, marking the latest escalation in their protracted conflict.
In a statement, the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said the RSF conducted suicide drone attacks on Saturday evening in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan. The strikes reportedly damaged Al-Dhaman Hospital, nearby residential areas, and other service facilities.
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While the SAF did not report any casualties, it condemned the strikes as a “moral defeat” for the RSF, accusing the group of repeatedly violating international humanitarian law and deliberately targeting civilians.
Eyewitnesses told The Sudan Tribune that powerful explosions were heard near the main army base in El Obeid as air defences intercepted several drones. Additional reports indicated that at least ten RSF drones were shot down by the SAF’s 5th Infantry Division.
Explosions, anti-aircraft fire
The RSF has not yet commented on the incident, but sources say similar drones also targeted military positions in Kosti, White Nile State — including the 18th Infantry Division headquarters — with residents reporting explosions and anti-aircraft fire early Sunday morning.
The attacks come amid intensifying clashes across the Kordofan and Darfur regions, where both sides have recently increased troop deployments.
El Obeid, a key command centre for the army’s operations in western Sudan, has repeatedly been struck by RSF artillery and drone attacks targeting hospitals, hotels, and industrial facilities.
Large-scale drone operations
The escalation follows a September 29 report by Yale University’s Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL), which revealed satellite imagery showing RSF preparations for large-scale drone operations.
According to the report, at least 43 drones and 36 launch platforms were positioned near Nyala Airport in South Darfur by late September.
HRL noted that the drones were not present in satellite imagery taken on September 26, indicating a rapid military buildup at the RSF-controlled airbase.
The lab also observed that 20 of the 36 launchers were newly installed, concluding that the combination of drones and launchers represents “a sign of imminent attack.”
The war between Sudan’s army and the RSF began in April 2023 in the capital, Khartoum, and has since spread across the country.
According to the United Nations, more than 40,000 people have been killed and about 12 million displaced by the fighting.
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