At least 24 displaced civilians, including eight children, have been killed in a drone attack blamed on Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as violence continues to escalate across the war-torn Kordofan region. The strike, which targeted a vehicle carrying families fleeing fighting, has triggered renewed condemnation from humanitarian groups and international officials.
The attack occurred near the city of Al-Rahad in North Kordofan state, according to local officials and the Sudan Doctors Network, a volunteer medical monitoring group. The vehicle was transporting civilians who had escaped clashes in the Dubeiker area when it was struck by a drone, leaving dozens more injured. Many of the victims were women and children, and two of the dead were infants, the group said.
Medical sources described the incident as a “new massacre” and accused the RSF of deliberately targeting unarmed civilians. They warned that attacking displaced people fleeing conflict zones could amount to a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and called for urgent international action to protect civilians and hold those responsible accountable.
Local authorities said the attack took place at the southern entrance of Al-Rahad, where the truck had been carrying more than 100 displaced people. Health workers reported that the wounded were taken to nearby facilities already struggling with shortages of medicine and staff due to the prolonged conflict.
The deadly strike came amid a wave of drone attacks across North Kordofan that have increasingly targeted aid routes and civilian infrastructure. Just a day earlier, a convoy linked to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) came under drone fire while transporting food assistance to famine-affected communities. The UN’s resident coordinator in Sudan said the trucks were travelling from Kosti toward el-Obeid when they were hit, destroying critical relief supplies and killing at least one person.
Sudan’s foreign ministry has accused the RSF of launching coordinated drone attacks against several locations in the state, including Allah Kareem, Es Samih and Um Rawaba, where humanitarian deliveries were underway. Officials described the strikes as criminal acts aimed at disrupting aid operations and worsening the humanitarian crisis.
International reactions have begun to mount following the latest killings. The United States condemned the attack on aid convoys, saying that destroying food supplies meant for civilians and targeting humanitarian workers was unacceptable. Aid organisations warn that repeated strikes on relief routes are making it nearly impossible to deliver food to communities already facing severe shortages.
The Kordofan region has seen intensified fighting since late 2025, when the RSF expanded its military operations after gaining ground in neighbouring areas. Drone warfare has become a defining feature of the conflict, with both sides accused of launching aerial attacks that have caused heavy civilian casualties.
Read Also: Male Menopause & Prostate: What Men Should Know—Intro
Sudan has been engulfed in a brutal power struggle since April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces, a conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. The United Nations describes the situation as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with widespread famine risks, disease outbreaks and mass displacement affecting large parts of the country.
Human rights advocates say the latest drone strike reflects a growing pattern of attacks on civilian targets in central Sudan. In recent months, medical groups have reported multiple incidents in which residential areas and civilian facilities were hit by drones, raising fears that the war is entering a more dangerous phase marked by escalating aerial warfare.
Despite the mounting criticism, there has been no immediate response from the RSF regarding the Al-Rahad incident. Analysts note that accountability remains a major challenge in the conflict, as both sides continue to accuse each other of violations while peace efforts have stalled.
Read Also: Iran Slams Israel’s “Doctrine of Domination” Amid Nuclear Talks
For displaced families across North Kordofan, the latest strike underscores the dangers faced even while fleeing violence. Aid workers warn that without stronger protection measures and renewed diplomatic pressure, civilians will remain exposed to attacks on roads that should serve as lifelines to safety.
As the humanitarian situation deteriorates, international organisations are urging all parties to respect international law and guarantee safe passage for aid deliveries and displaced communities. With drone attacks intensifying and relief routes under threat, many fear the death toll could continue to rise unless urgent steps are taken to de-escalate the conflict and safeguard civilians caught in the crossfire.
