Reports: Drone Attacks in Sudan Kill Over 160 Amid Rising Civilian Harm

What happened

Al Jazeera Sudan reports that drone strikes across Sudan have caused over 160 deaths in recent days, based on information from medics and rights groups monitoring the conflict. Emergency Lawyers reported the killing of three children in Khartoum on Monday and attributed attacks in western Sudan to both the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and Sudanese government forces.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. The deadliest attack occurred near a livestock market in Al-Dibab town, West Kordofan, with residents and medical sources reporting around 80 killed at the transport hub where villagers gathered after market day. An additional 47 wounded were taken to Al-Mujlad town, where 30 subsequently died from injuries. Emergency Lawyers and the RSF administration accused the Sudanese army of conducting this strike.

Further drone attacks were reported in eastern Sudan where a military source claimed RSF drones targeting dams in Gadaref state were intercepted by air defenses. The RSF has not commented on these claims. Another attack on the RSF-controlled city of Nyala in South Darfur killed 17, including RSF officers, and wounded 23, according to medical and RSF sources. A previous RSF drone strike reportedly killed 41 displaced people in Blue Nile state.

Known from the source

• Drone attacks in Sudan have reportedly killed more than 160 people in recent days according to medics and rights groups.
• Emergency Lawyers reported drone strikes killed three children in Khartoum on Monday.
• An attack near a market in Al-Dibab town, West Kordofan, killed around 80 people at the scene; 30 more died later from injuries in Al-Mujlad.
• Both RSF and Sudanese government forces are blamed for various drone attacks, per rights groups and associated sources.
• A military source said RSF drones targeting dams in Gadaref state were intercepted by air defences.

What remains unclear

The United Nations condemned the drone attacks for their impact on civilians and central services. Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric emphasized concern over increasing casualties including children. The conflict that erupted in April 2023 continues to produce a high death toll, with at least 59,000 reported killed to date and 13 million displaced, fueling the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Over 33 million people urgently need food assistance, with hundreds of thousands of children severely malnourished.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Verification of exact casualty figures and confirmation of deaths linked to each drone strike. Independent confirmation of which forces are responsible for specific drone attacks. Verification of claims regarding interception of RSF drones by military air defences.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Al Jazeera Sudan. Open the source.