More than 70 people have been killed following a drone strike on a mosque in Sudan's Darfur region, a senior medical source has told the BBC.
The attack occurred in the city of el-Fasher during Friday prayers and has been blamed on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), although the group has not claimed responsibility.
As the RSF continues its military campaign against the Sudanese army, they have reportedly aimed to seize full control of el-Fasher, which serves as the last army stronghold in the region, trapped alongside over 300,000 civilians caught in the ongoing conflict.
One eyewitness recounted the chaos as the drone struck, killing numerous individuals immediately. According to initial medical reports, 78 casualties have been confirmed with around 20 additional injuries, while the recovery of bodies from the mosque ruins is still underway.
Latest verified footage showcases scores of victims being handled by medics on-site, highlighting the dire humanitarian situation as the RSF enhances its offensive on the area.
Recent satellite imagery indicates substantial RSF control over el-Fasher, marking alarming progress in their efforts this week. Notably, Shan El Fasher's airport and military division headquarters are now threatened due to the RSF's advances.
This escalation raises fears regarding potential ethnic cleansing against various civilian groups amid an increasingly polarized conflict, as cautioned by a United Nations report stressing the deepening ethnic tensions within the war.
Verifications by organizations like Doctors Without Borders depict heinous strategies employed by RSF factions, hinting at their determination to eliminate non-Arab communities throughout their captured territories.
The situation in Sudan remains critical, as both the international community and local observers remain vigilant regarding the RSF's next moves amid this tragic violence.
