Sudan's expanding drone war pushes conflict into civilian neighborhoods, raising death toll

In Sudan's fourth year of civil war, the SAF and the paramilitary RSF have turned to drones to conduct long-range strikes against each other’s command and supply networks, extending the fight into residential districts. A recent raid in the Imtidad Nasser neighbourhood of Khartoum killed three children after anti-aircraft fire and explosions followed a RSF drone attack. Across the country, more than 160 civilians have died in the latest wave of drone assaults, including a market strike in al-Dabba that left 80 dead and attacks on displaced-person gatherings in the Blue Nile province.

Military spokesperson Mohamed Didan reported dozens of air strikes targeting RSF forces, while the RSF says the army is bombing markets and fuel stations. A Sudanese official said that the army only targets military and logistical sites, not civilians. The UN’s Stephane Dujarric warned that the strikes are killing children and disrupting essential services. An investigation by the Centre for Information Resilience identified 21 drone models from six countries used by both sides, underscoring the conflict’s rapid mechanisation.