15 civilians killed in South Kordofan drone strikes

KADUGLI – At least 15 civilians, including seven children, have been killed in a series of drone and artillery attacks on residential neighbourhoods in Kadugli, the capital of South Kordofan, according to the Sudan Doctors Network.

In a statement released late Tuesday, the medical advocacy group said the casualties resulted from continued assaults by the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, commonly known as SPLM-N (al-Hilu faction). The violence reportedly persisted into the evening hours, with several neighbourhoods in Kadugli coming under sustained fire.

Field teams affiliated with the Network documented at least seven civilian deaths in the Kashmir neighbourhood alone, describing scenes of widespread destruction and panic among residents seeking safety from the bombardment. Witnesses said homes were struck without warning, forcing families to flee or shelter indoors as explosions echoed across the town.

“The death toll from attacks by the Rapid Support Forces and the SPLM-N (al-Hilu faction) on several neighbourhoods in Kadugli has risen to over 15, including seven children,” the Network said, adding that the figures may increase as rescue workers continue to search damaged buildings and assess casualties.

The organisation strongly condemned what it described as “grave violations” against unarmed civilians, stressing that residential areas, public gathering points, and health facilities were among the sites affected. It warned that deliberate or indiscriminate attacks on civilian infrastructure breach international humanitarian law and further endanger already vulnerable communities.

“Targeting residential areas, civilian gathering places, and medical facilities constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law,” the statement said. “These attacks undermine all efforts to protect civilians and keep them out of the conflict.”

The renewed violence in Kadugli comes amid escalating tensions between armed factions operating in the region, with civilians increasingly caught in the crossfire. Health workers reported difficulties accessing the wounded due to ongoing insecurity, raising fears that some injured residents may not receive timely medical care.

The Sudan Doctors Network called on the international community to intervene urgently, urging diplomatic and political pressure to halt what it described as systematic shelling and long-range attacks on populated areas. It called for accountability and stronger measures to deter further harm to civilians.

“The international community must take immediate action to stop the deliberate targeting of civilians,” the group said, warning that continued inaction risks worsening the humanitarian crisis in South Kordofan.

Local authorities have yet to release an official casualty figure, but humanitarian sources say displacement is rising as families flee neighbourhoods perceived to be at risk of further strikes.