Sudan Sees Surge in RSF Drone Strikes: 13 Killed in North Kordofan, Merowe Dam Attack Intercepted
Khartoum, Sudan – Escalating aerial assaults by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have intensified Sudan's ongoing civil war, with a deadly drone strike killing at least 13 people, including children, in North Kordofan state and a separate intercepted attack targeting the strategic Merowe Dam in the Northern State.
The attacks, occurring within days of each other, underscore the RSF's growing reliance on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to strike Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)-controlled territories. On Monday, January 5, 2026, at approximately 7:41 a.m. GMT, the SAF announced it had successfully intercepted an RSF drone assault aimed at the Merowe Dam and nearby military installations in the Northern State. The dam, one of Sudan's largest hydropower facilities located along the Nile River, generates a significant portion of the country's electricity and has been a focal point of strategic importance amid the conflict.
No casualties were reported from the intercepted strike, but the incident highlighted vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. SAF statements described the interception as a defensive success, with air defenses downing the drones before they could inflict damage. The Northern State, bordering Egypt, remains largely under SAF control, making it a key northern stronghold for the military.
Just a day later, on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, RSF drones struck El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, in an attack that medics described as devastating. According to reports from Anadolu Agency, at least 13 people were killed, including children, when the drones targeted residential areas in the city. A medical relief group on the ground labeled the assault a "full-fledged war crime," citing the indiscriminate nature of the strikes that hit civilian neighborhoods.
Eyewitness accounts and medical sources detailed scenes of chaos, with explosions ripping through homes and markets. "The drones came without warning, striking populated areas where families were going about their daily lives," one medic told reporters. The death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue amid damaged infrastructure and limited access to the affected zones. North Kordofan has been a contested battleground, with SAF forces holding El-Obeid while RSF militias control surrounding rural areas.
These incidents are part of a broader pattern of drone warfare that has defined the 20-month conflict between the SAF, led by Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (Hemedti). The war erupted in April 2023 over tensions regarding the integration of the paramilitary RSF into the regular army, spiraling into one of the world's most severe humanitarian crises. Over 12,000 people have been killed, and more than 8 million displaced internally, according to United Nations estimates as of late 2025. Both sides have acquired drones from foreign suppliers—SAF from Iran and Russia, RSF reportedly from the United Arab Emirates—turning Sudan's skies into a deadly arena.
The Merowe Dam, completed in 2009 with Chinese assistance, supplies up to 10% of Sudan's power and irrigates vast farmlands. Previous RSF threats against it raised alarms about potential blackouts and flooding risks, echoing attacks on infrastructure like the Roseires Dam in 2024. Analysts note that targeting such sites could exacerbate the humanitarian toll, where famine looms in RSF-held Darfur and cholera outbreaks ravage camps.
International response has been muted but growing. The UN Security Council has repeatedly called for ceasefires, while the African Union mediates stalled peace talks in Addis Ababa. On January 6, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller condemned "indiscriminate attacks on civilians," urging both parties to halt drone operations. The RSF has not claimed responsibility for either strike but has previously justified UAV use as retaliation against SAF advances.
Background on Sudan's Civil War
Sudan's conflict stems from a power struggle post-2019 revolution that ousted Omar al-Bashir. A 2021 coup by Burhan and Hemedti derailed civilian transition, leading to open war. The RSF, evolved from Janjaweed militias accused of Darfur genocide, controls much of the west and parts of Khartoum, while SAF dominates the north and east. Foreign involvement—arms from Gulf states, Wagner Group mercenaries—complicates de-escalation.
Economic fallout is dire: Sudan's GDP has shrunk 40%, inflation hit 300% in 2025, and 25 million face acute hunger per IPC reports.
Outlook
As winter rains approach, both factions may intensify operations before seasonal flooding hampers mobility. Diplomatic efforts, including Jeddah talks hosted by Saudi Arabia and the U.S., show little progress. Humanitarian agencies warn that unchecked drone escalation risks broader regional instability, potentially drawing in neighbors like Egypt, concerned over Nile waters from Merowe.
The SAF's interception demonstrates improved air defenses, but the North Kordofan deaths spotlight civilian perils. With no end in sight, Sudan's people endure a war where technology amplifies suffering.
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