Drone strike kills 28 people at market in Sudan

According to AFP, the drone attack occurred on Tuesday (19 May 2026) local time. Medical sources and three eyewitnesses said casualties were taken to Ghubaysh Hospital after the strike. Drone strikes in the conflict between the Sudanese military and the RSF have risen in recent months. The fighting between the two sides has been ongoing since April 2023 and has spread to several regions, including West Darfur, South Kordofan, and Blue Nile State in southeastern Sudan. Two eyewitnesses said the drone hit a busy restaurant in the city’s main market. They suspected the attack was carried out by the Sudanese military. Meanwhile, another witness said the attack first struck a vehicle belonging to the RSF, killing three people inside and destroying the vehicle before it struck the restaurant. However, a Sudanese military source denied claims that they targeted civilians. They stressed the operation was aimed only at military targets, including armed vehicles and weapons and ammunition depots. RSF has not yet issued an official statement regarding the incident. The four-year conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million to flee. The United Nations (UN) says the war has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. The UN also notes at least 880 civilians killed in drone attacks since January 2026.