Tragic Drone Strike in Sudan Claims Lives of Children and Family Members

Thu Jan 08 2026 11:08:09 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A drone attack in the Sudanese city of el-Obeid has left 13 dead, including eight children, raising concerns about escalating violence in the ongoing civil war.

In a devastating incident, a drone strike in el-Obeid, Sudan, has resulted in the deaths of at least 13 people, predominantly children from the same family. As the conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces intensifies, international observers express alarm over the humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold.

At least 13 people have been killed, including eight children, after a drone strike on a house in the Sudanese city of el-Obeid, according to the Sudan Doctors' Network.

Most of the victims were identified as members of the same family. While no group has claimed responsibility, medics attribute the attack to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has been attempting to gain ground in an area controlled by the army for months.

The ongoing civil war between Sudan's army and RSF rebels has reached a critical juncture as it nears its third year, with the UN describing the situation as the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

More than 11 million individuals have fled their homes due to the violence, and numerous atrocities are reported, including widespread sexual violence. Both the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces are being accused of these crimes.

Witnesses reported that the drone attack struck a residential area, raising alarms over escalating strategies involving indiscriminate killings and bombardments targeting civilian locales. The city of el-Obeid remains under army control, although the RSF continues to exert influence in North Kordofan.

Analysts identify el-Obeid as a significant strategic location, acting as a link between Khartoum and the troubled Darfur region, where RSF has established a parallel governance structure amidst allegations of genocide.

The incident follows recent RSF attacks on a local power plant and involves escalations that have provoked warnings from humanitarian organizations regarding the intensifying nature of conflicts within Sudan.