Drone strikes kill at least 15 in Sudan's el-Obeid

At least 15 people were killed and several others injured in a series of overnight drone strikes on the Sudanese city of el-Obeid.

The attacks began late on Wednesday and targeted several locations across the city, including residential areas, a cemetery, and sites near military positions.

According to the Sudan Doctors Network, one drone strike hit a funeral gathering, killing four people, while a separate attack struck a truck transporting food supplies and killed the driver.

Emergency Lawyers, a local rights group, said homes in residential neighborhoods were also hit, leaving civilians trapped under collapsed buildings. Witnesses described scenes of devastation, with rescue efforts continuing amid concerns that the death toll could rise.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been blamed for the attacks. The group, however, has not commented on the allegations. Rights groups say the strikes are part of a pattern of attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure in recent days.

The violence has disrupted daily life in el-Obeid, with some schools suspending classes and businesses scaling back operations due to security concerns. Aid workers have also warned that repeated attacks are seriously hindering humanitarian efforts in the region.

El-Obeid, located in the strategic, oil-rich Kordofan region, has become a key battleground in the conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF.

The conflict broke out in April 2023 following a power struggle between the two sides and has since evolved into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

It has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions from their homes, and left more than 30 million in need of humanitarian assistance.

(Story compiled with input from news agencies)