Deadly Sudan Drone Strike Hits Funeral Procession
A drone strike on a funeral at a cemetery in el-Obeid, Sudan, killed at least four and injured several others, according to rights groups that blame the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
At least four people were killed and several injured when a drone struck a funeral procession at a cemetery in the Sudanese city of el-Obeid, as reported by two rights groups—Sudan Doctors Network and Emergency Lawyers.
Both organizations accuse the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) of carrying out the attack. Emergency Lawyers describe it as part of a series of drone strikes that began on Wednesday evening, which have killed at least 23 people in total. The RSF has not commented on the allegations.
El-Obeid, which is under army control, is a strategic battleground in Sudan's three-year civil war, which erupted after disagreements between army and RSF leaders over the country's future direction. The city lies in the oil-rich Kordofan region, and analysts say whoever controls this region effectively controls much of the country's oil supply.
In addition to the cemetery attack, Emergency Lawyers reported drones striking homes in a residential neighborhood, the airport district, and areas near an army base. Thirteen civilians were killed in these strikes as they gathered near destroyed houses. Earlier attacks had already killed five civilians.
A resident told AFP news agency: "It is tragic. The roofs of houses collapsed on their occupants. When you look at some houses, you feel no-one could have survived."
On Thursday, a drone also killed the driver of a truck carrying food supplies, according to both rights groups. They describe systematic and repeated attacks on civilians in el-Obeid over several days.
The conflict has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with over 11 million people displaced and 28 million facing acute hunger. While reliable death toll figures are unavailable, it is estimated at least 50,000 have been killed.
