RSF Drones Target Several Sudanese Cities

Moatinoon
The use of drones in Sudan’s war has reached a new level, with attacks increasingly extending beyond immediate front lines to cities and areas far from ground fighting, targeting military and civilian facilities as well as critical infrastructure. The United Nations has warned that drones have become one of the leading causes of civilian deaths in the conflict.

In the latest escalation, Sudanese army air defenses on Sunday confronted drone attacks targeting El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State, and Atbara airport in River Nile State, while the military reported intercepting and shooting down several attacking drones.

Local reports said about four drones were used in the attack on El Obeid, while army air defenses engaged them. There was no independently verified information available at the time of publication on the extent of casualties or material damage.

In River Nile State, attack drones also targeted Atbara airport and areas on the western bank of the Nile opposite the city, according to military sources cited by local media.

The sources said army air defenses shot down several drones around Atbara airport. Initial reports indicated that the attack caused light to moderate injuries among military personnel.

Long-range drone intercepted
In North Kordofan, the Sudanese army also announced that its air defenses had shot down a long-range FH-95 drone north of the Al-Kokaiti area, amid intensified military operations across the state.

The incident comes as the army and allied forces conduct a major military campaign in North Kordofan. Military sources say the offensive has enabled the army to regain control of strategic areas and push RSF forces toward the western parts of the state.

In a separate development, military sources said the army had intercepted a long-range strategic drone in Blue Nile State and accused the Rapid Support Forces of launching it from inside Ethiopian territory. The army said the interception caused no casualties or material damage and that it was the third drone of the same type it had reported shooting down in the area within 24 hours.

The reported launch point and the identity of those operating the drone could not be independently verified.

Drone warfare expands
Drones have become a major weapon in the war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, allowing both sides to conduct long-range strikes against locations far from conventional ground fronts.

In recent months, drone attacks have repeatedly targeted El Obeid, Atbara, Omdurman, Khartoum Bahri and other cities, while strikes have also hit fuel, water and energy infrastructure. On September 15, the army said it had intercepted drones targeting the Upper Atbara and Setit dams and the Khashm al-Qirbah dam, while four people were reportedly killed and others wounded in drone strikes on Ed Damazin in Blue Nile State, according to military and local sources.

The United Nations says the expanding use of drones has fundamentally increased the risks facing civilians in Sudan. In a September briefing to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights said her office had documented **at least 1,120 civilian deaths caused by drone strikes across Sudan during the first six months of 2026, accounting for 80% of all civilian deaths documented by the office during the same period**.

The UN has warned that drones are not only killing civilians directly but are increasingly striking infrastructure essential to daily life. Documented targets have included markets, fuel stations, hospitals, schools, and water and electricity facilities, disrupting basic services and contributing to displacement and growing humanitarian needs.

In June, the UN documented 15 drone strikes on El Obeid and surrounding areas between June 6 and June 28, killing at least 45 civilians and injuring 41 others. The UN said the actual civilian toll was likely higher.

The latest attacks come as Kordofan has emerged as a major centre of fighting in Sudan, with military operations intensifying around El Obeid and along strategic routes linking central Sudan with the west. At the same time, drone warfare has expanded into Blue Nile, River Nile, Gedaref and Kassala states, demonstrating the growing reach of aerial attacks beyond traditional front lines.

The United Nations has warned that the continued use of drones in populated areas and against critical infrastructure raises serious concerns under international humanitarian law, while deepening civilian suffering and disrupting humanitarian operations in a country facing one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.