Drone strike kills five at fuel stations in southern Sudan

Five people were killed and nine others wounded in a drone strike that hit two fuel stations in the southern Sudanese city of Kosti, the Sudan Doctors Network said on Tuesday.

The medical group accused the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the attack on fuel facilities in White Nile State, describing it as part of repeated attacks on civilian infrastructure.

"The attack reflects a blatant disregard for civilian lives," the group said in a statement, warning that such strikes are further worsening Sudan's already dire humanitarian and health crisis.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF or Sudanese authorities. The incident came a day after Sudan's government reported a drone strike on a site at Khartoum International Airport with no casualties.

Authorities later confirmed that air traffic had resumed.

On Tuesday, Sudan's Foreign Ministry recalled its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations, accusing Addis Ababa of involvement in the airport attack, a claim Ethiopia has denied.

Drone strikes have intensified in recent days across Khartoum and Al Jazira states, killing and injuring dozens of civilians.

On Saturday, five civilians were reportedly killed in a strike on a vehicle west of the capital, while local media reported another deadly strike targeting a family in Al Jazira State earlier this week.

Sudanese authorities and rights groups have repeatedly accused the RSF of targeting civilian sites. The paramilitary force has denied the allegations, saying it seeks to protect civilians.

Fighting between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces has raged since April 2023 over the integration of the paramilitary group into the regular army.

The conflict has triggered one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands killed and around 13 million people displaced.

(With input from wires)