Drone Strike Kills Five Civilians in Khartoum as Sudan Conflict Escalates

A paramilitary drone strike killed five civilians in Khartoum, the second such attack in a week. Drone warfare between the army and RSF is increasing, with civilians often affected. The conflict, now in its fourth year, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

A paramilitary drone strike killed five civilians on Saturday after hitting a vehicle in the greater Khartoum area, according to a rights organisation, marking the second such incident to occur in the Sudanese capital within the same week. The attack highlights a growing pattern of aerial assaults as the conflict continues to escalate.
In recent months, drone warfare has intensified significantly across Sudan, with both the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) increasingly deploying unmanned aerial vehicles in combat operations. These strikes have often resulted in high civilian casualties, with some incidents reportedly claiming dozens of lives at once, raising serious concerns among humanitarian groups and observers about the impact on non-combatants.
Emergency Lawyers, a Sudanese legal advocacy group that has been actively documenting human rights violations throughout the ongoing conflict, reported that the latest strike was carried out by an RSF drone. The drone reportedly targeted a civilian vehicle on the Jammouiya Triangle road in southern Omdurman on Saturday morning. Omdurman lies just across the River Nile from central Khartoum, forming part of the wider capital region. According to the group, all occupants of the vehicle were killed in the strike, underscoring the deadly precision and consequences of these aerial attacks.
The victims were said to have been travelling from the Sheikh al-Siddiq area in White Nile State, which is located approximately 90 kilometres (56 miles) south of Khartoum. The details surrounding the identities of those killed were not immediately disclosed, but the incident has further amplified fears about the safety of civilians moving between regions amid the ongoing hostilities.
Earlier in the week, another drone strike had hit a hospital in the Jebel Awliya area, roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of central Khartoum. Security sources and eyewitnesses confirmed the incident, noting that it was the first drone attack on the capital in several months. The strike on a medical facility raised alarm due to the protected status of hospitals under international humanitarian law and the already fragile healthcare system in the country.
The Jebel Awliya area had previously been under RSF control and was considered their last stronghold in Khartoum State before being recaptured by the Sudanese army about a year ago. The army’s swift counteroffensive at the time forced RSF fighters to retreat westward toward their main base of operations in the Darfur region, significantly shifting the dynamics of the conflict within the राजधानी.
During the earlier phases of the war, the RSF had carried out multiple drone strikes targeting key infrastructure in Khartoum, including military installations, power stations, and water supply systems. These attacks contributed to widespread disruption of essential services, leaving large portions of the population without electricity, clean water, and other basic necessities.
Despite the recent resurgence in drone attacks, Khartoum had experienced a relative period of calm in the past few months. This stability had allowed more than 1.8 million displaced residents to return to their homes, offering a fragile sense of normalcy. Additionally, domestic flights had resumed at the city’s airport, signaling a tentative recovery. However, much of the capital still suffers from damaged infrastructure and lacks consistent access to electricity and essential public services.
While the capital saw a temporary lull in violence, intense fighting has continued in other parts of the country. In the Darfur region, the army lost its last remaining base in October, further consolidating RSF influence there. Meanwhile, in the Kordofan region, clashes have persisted as the RSF attempts to regain control of Sudan’s strategic east-west highway, a vital route for transportation and military logistics.
The conflict has also spread to the southeastern Blue Nile State, near the border with Ethiopia, raising concerns that the war could become even more protracted and geographically fragmented. The expansion of violence into new regions has heightened fears of further instability and increased humanitarian needs.
Now entering its fourth year, the war in Sudan has had devastating consequences. Tens of thousands of people have been killed, with some estimates placing the death toll at over 200,000. Millions have been displaced from their homes, both internally and across borders, creating one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world today. The continued use of drones and other advanced weaponry in populated areas has only deepened the suffering of civilians and complicated efforts to bring about a lasting resolution to the conflict.