RSF Drone Strikes Kill 45 in El-Obeid as 27 June Attacks Batter Strategic Sudan Hub
Updated
Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 7
RSF Drone Strikes Kill 45 in El-Obeid as 27 June Attacks Batter Strategic Sudan Hub
1 articles · Updated · bbc.co.uk · Jul 7
Summary
At least 45 people were killed and 41 injured in 15 RSF drone strikes on army-held El-Obeid between June 6 and 28, the UN human rights chief said.
Twenty-seven drone strikes hit the city in June—the highest monthly total since Sudan's war began—while fuel stations, tankers, the main power substation, markets and neighborhoods were repeatedly struck.
El-Obeid, a city of about 500,000 with a major military base, sits on a vital corridor linking RSF-held western Sudan to Khartoum and Omdurman, making it a key target in the three-year conflict.
Hospitals are struggling with near-constant casualties, fuel shortages are driving sharp price rises, and damage to electricity and water systems is raising fears of contaminated water and disease.
About 100,000 displaced people are sheltering in the city, which rights groups warn could face a broader humanitarian catastrophe even as analysts say a full RSF takeover remains unlikely for now.
As a Sudanese city faces collapse, can the world stop the UAE's alleged pipeline of advanced drones?
With 150 militias now fighting, has Sudan's civil war spiraled beyond the control of its original architects?
Drone Attacks and Humanitarian Collapse: The 2026 El Obeid Crisis Amid Sudan’s Record Displacement
Overview
El Obeid, a major city in Sudan, is now overwhelmed by an escalating crisis as intensified violence and drone attacks have struck a population already swollen by over 100,000 internally displaced people fleeing conflict from places like El Fasher. The broader Kordofan region is also suffering from ongoing hostilities, with children especially at risk—drone strikes alone caused most child casualties in early 2026. As rival military forces continue fighting, humanitarian needs are growing rapidly, and warnings from organizations like UNICEF highlight the urgent threat to civilians, especially vulnerable groups such as children and displaced families.