Drone Strikes Kill Four Civilians In Sudan’s Blue Nile State

Four civilians were killed and dozens injured in reported drone strikes targeting residential areas in Damazin, the capital of Sudan's Blue Nile State. Sudanese rights groups said homes and a mosque were among the locations hit and accused the RSF and its allies of carrying out the attack. The incident comes amid continuing fighting across Sudan, where drone attacks have reportedly killed more than 1,100 civilians between January and June this year. The wider war, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 13 million.

Four civilians have been killed and dozens injured after drone strikes targeted residential areas in Damazin, the capital of Sudan's Blue Nile State, according to Sudanese rights groups.
The strikes reportedly occurred early on Wednesday and hit civilian locations, including homes and a mosque in the Al Hijra neighbourhood.
The attack has raised fresh concerns about the growing use of drones in Sudan's devastating conflict and the danger faced by civilians living in areas affected by the fighting.

CIVILIAN AREAS HIT BY DRONES

The Emergency Lawyers Committee said drones targeted civilian sites in Damazin early on Wednesday.
According to the committee, the attack killed four women in the Al Hijra neighbourhood and injured dozens of other civilians.
The group accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the attack and warned against further attacks on civilian locations.
The allegations have not been independently established, but they add to repeated accusations by Sudanese authorities and rights organisations that civilians are being targeted during the conflict.

HOMES AND MOSQUE AMONG TARGETS

The reported targets included residential buildings and a mosque.
The involvement of a place of worship has increased concern among local civil society groups, which said civilians and religious sites must be protected from the fighting.
The Blue Nile Civil Society Initiative condemned what it described as an attack by the RSF and its ally, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement North (SPLM N), using drones against residential neighbourhoods.
The group expressed particular concern about the targeting of civilian areas and places of worship.

RIGHTS GROUP CALLS FOR PROTECTION OF CIVILIANS

The Emergency Lawyers Committee called for an immediate end to attacks against civilian areas.
It also called for those responsible to be held accountable.
The committee said deliberately directing attacks against civilians or civilian objects would constitute a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
The statement reflects growing concern over the consequences of attacks in populated areas, where civilians can be killed or injured even when they are not directly involved in the fighting.

DRONE ATTACKS BECOME A MAJOR THREAT

The latest incident highlights the increasing danger posed by drones in Sudan's war.
Drones allow armed groups to strike targets from a distance and can reach areas far from traditional front lines.
However, when drones are used in or around populated areas, civilians can be exposed to significant danger, particularly when there is no effective warning or protection.
The United Nations said that 1,100 civilians were killed in drone attacks across Sudan between January and June this year.
The figure illustrates the growing role of drone warfare in a conflict that has already caused widespread civilian suffering.

FIGHTING SPREADS ACROSS KORDOFAN

The latest violence comes as fighting continues across several parts of Sudan.
The three Kordofan states — North Kordofan, West Kordofan and South Kordofan — have experienced clashes between Sudan's army and the RSF since October 2025.
The region is strategically important because of its location and links between different parts of the country.
Continued fighting there has increased the pressure on communities already affected by displacement, food shortages and insecurity.

SUDAN HAS BEEN AT WAR SINCE 2023

Sudan's wider conflict began in April 2023 following a breakdown in relations between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF.
At the centre of the dispute was disagreement over the planned integration of the powerful paramilitary force into Sudan's regular military.
The dispute eventually developed into a full scale war, with fighting spreading across several regions and major cities.
Both sides have been accused of serious violations against civilians during the conflict.

MILLIONS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED

The war has created one of the world's major humanitarian crises.
According to UN and international estimates cited in the report, tens of thousands of people have been killed since the conflict began, while around 13 million people have been displaced.
Many displaced Sudanese have been forced to leave their homes more than once as fighting moves between different areas.
The destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure has also made it increasingly difficult for people to access healthcare, food, clean water and other essential services.

BLUE NILE STATE FACES FRESH CONCERNS

The attack in Damazin has raised concerns about the potential for the conflict to cause further civilian casualties in Blue Nile State.
Residents of affected neighbourhoods face the immediate challenge of recovering from the strikes while authorities and humanitarian organisations assess the needs of those injured and displaced.
For families who lost loved ones, the attack represents another devastating consequence of a war that has already claimed thousands of lives.
The latest incident also underlines the growing importance of protecting civilian communities as fighting and drone warfare continue across Sudan.