Sudan Faces Escalating Drone Threats Amid Civil War: Civilian Deaths in El-Obeid, Army Thwarts RSF Attack on Merowe Dam
Khartoum, Sudan – Sudanese civilians continue to bear the brunt of the intensifying civil war, as a drone strike killed at least 13 people including eight children in el-Obeid city, while the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) reported intercepting a Rapid Support Forces (RSF) drone assault targeting the strategic Merowe Dam and nearby military sites in Northern State.
Medics in el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state in central Sudan, confirmed the deaths following a drone attack on a residential home. The incident, which occurred recently amid ongoing clashes, underscores the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by warring factions, often with devastating consequences for non-combatants. According to reports from medical sources cited by the BBC, the strike hit a family residence, leaving a trail of destruction and highlighting the precarious humanitarian situation in contested areas.
In a separate but related development, the SAF announced on January 5, 2026, at approximately 07:41 GMT, that it had successfully intercepted an RSF drone attack of high severity aimed at the Merowe Dam and military installations in Northern State. The dam, located along the Nile River about 300 kilometers northwest of Khartoum, is one of Sudan's largest hydroelectric facilities, generating up to 1,250 megawatts of power and providing critical irrigation for agriculture. An attack on this infrastructure could have triggered widespread blackouts, flooding risks, and food security crises in an already beleaguered nation.
The SAF's interception prevented potential catastrophe, but it signals a dangerous escalation in aerial tactics. Both the SAF and RSF have increasingly relied on drones since the conflict erupted in April 2023, sourcing them from foreign suppliers including Iran, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and others. The RSF, in particular, has been accused by human rights groups of using drone strikes indiscriminately in urban areas, contributing to civilian casualties.
El-Obeid has been a flashpoint in the war. The city changed hands multiple times, with the RSF capturing it in mid-2023 before SAF forces, backed by allied militias, retook control in late 2024 after fierce street-to-street fighting. Despite these shifts, sporadic drone and artillery attacks persist, displacing thousands and straining local medical facilities. The recent strike on a home in el-Obeid adds to a grim tally: the United Nations has documented over 20,000 deaths and 10 million displaced since the war began, with children comprising a disproportionate number of victims.
Background on Sudan's Drone Warfare
Sudan's civil war pits the SAF, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, against the RSF commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti), a former ally turned rival. The power struggle originated from disagreements over integrating the RSF into the national army as part of a transition to civilian rule post-2019 revolution that ousted longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir.
Drones entered the fray prominently in 2023, with the RSF deploying Chinese-made Wing Loong models and SAF using Iranian Mohajer-6 variants. Verified footage and reports from groups like the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) show over 100 drone strikes by mid-2025, many hitting civilian targets in Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan. International mediators, including the U.S., Saudi Arabia, and the African Union, have repeatedly called for a ceasefire, but talks in Jeddah and Geneva have stalled.
The Merowe Dam attack attempt fits a pattern of RSF efforts to disrupt SAF supply lines and infrastructure in the north, where the army holds stronger positions. Northern State remains relatively stable compared to the west and center, serving as a SAF stronghold with air defenses bolstered by Russian-supplied systems.
Humanitarian agencies report dire conditions: famine looms in Darfur, cholera outbreaks rage in Khartoum camps, and aid access is blocked by both sides. The World Health Organization noted in December 2025 that airstrikes have overwhelmed hospitals, with el-Obeid's facilities treating burn victims from drone shrapnel.
Outlook Amid Persistent Violence
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the el-Obeid strike, but the RSF's history of drone operations in the area points to their involvement. SAF spokespersons vowed retaliation, while RSF media outlets denied targeting civilians, blaming SAF misfires—a common refrain in the information war.
International pressure mounts for accountability. The International Criminal Court, already investigating Sudanese atrocities, may expand probes into drone use. U.S. sanctions on drone suppliers persist, but black-market flows continue.
As winter sets in, analysts warn of intensified fighting ahead of potential 2026 rainy season lulls. With no breakthrough in peace talks, Sudan's 48 million people face prolonged agony, where even intercepted threats underscore the fragility of life in a nation torn by ambition and firepower.
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