At least 15 civilians were killed and 12 others wounded in a drone strike launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Tuesday that targeted a bustling local market in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, according to medical and civil society sources.

A medical source at the Saudi Hospital in El Fasher, the city’s main medical facility, confirmed the toll.

“The hospital received multiple casualties. Based on our count, 15 people were killed and 12 others were injured,” the source said, requesting anonymity.

The source added that most of the wounded are in critical condition and in urgent need of surgical intervention, but the hospital is struggling with severe shortages of medical supplies and specialized staff.

The Coordination of Resistance Committees in El Fasher, a volunteer group, also confirmed the strike, reporting that more than 27 people were killed or injured when the drone targeted the crowded marketplace.

Since May 10, 2024, El Fasher has been engulfed in heavy clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied groups on one side and the RSF on the other. Fighting has intensified in recent days, pushing the city into a new wave of bloodshed and destruction.

The attack on the market marks one of the deadliest single incidents in El Fasher in recent weeks, further endangering civilians who are already trapped in the crossfire.

The violence in El Fasher reflects the wider conflict that has devastated Sudan since April 2023, when war broke out between the SAF and the RSF. The power struggle has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions within Sudan, and forced hundreds of thousands across borders, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

International relief agencies have repeatedly warned of looming famine, mass civilian casualties, and the collapse of Sudan’s already fragile healthcare system.

As the RSF and SAF battle for control of key regions, civilians continue to pay the heaviest price. (ILKHA)