Sudan Drone Strikes Escalate as Civilian Death Toll Mounts
October 24, 2025 — Sudan’s fragile security situation deteriorated sharply this week as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a sustained drone campaign against population centers, killing at least five civilians and threatening the country’s first signs of normalcy in years.
Capital Under Fire Despite Airport Reopening
Khartoum residents faced their fourth consecutive day of drone attacks on Friday, just two days after the capital’s international airport reopened for the first time in over two years. The timing of the attacks shattered hopes that the airport’s reopening signaled an end to hostilities.
Sudanese military officials reported intercepting the drones before they could cause damage, but the persistence of the attacks demonstrates the RSF’s continued capacity to strike the capital despite losing control of Khartoum to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in March 2025.
Market Attack Kills Five in El Fasher
The drone campaign turned deadly in El Fasher, North Darfur, where an RSF strike on the central market killed five civilians and injured more than 10 others on Thursday. The attack targeted a civilian gathering, raising serious questions about compliance with international humanitarian law.
El Fasher remains under siege as the last major city in Darfur not controlled by the RSF. The paramilitary group has intensified drone operations in the region in recent weeks, including devastating attacks on a mosque in late September that killed approximately 70 people and a strike on the Dar al-Arqam displacement center in mid-October that killed about 60.
UN Official Warns of Escalating Crisis
Radhouane Nouicer, the UN-designated expert on human rights in Sudan, expressed alarm at the sharp escalation in drone strikes by both the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces, warning of “devastating consequences for civilians throughout the country.”
The conflict, which erupted in April 2023, has already killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 14 million according to UN and local authorities. The recent intensification of drone warfare suggests the humanitarian crisis will deepen before any resolution emerges.
RSF leader Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo had warned ahead of the airport reopening that his forces would shoot down any plane suspected of supporting the Sudanese army, indicating the group’s intention to maintain military pressure regardless of civilian impact.
Global Conflict Developments
Ukraine-Russia: Ukrainian kamikaze drones reportedly struck two oil refineries in Russia’s Samara Region (Syzran and Novokuibyshiv), located 800-900 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, according to user-posted videos circulating online.
Gaza-Israel: The United States vetoed a Gaza ceasefire resolution at the UN Security Council for the sixth time. Unverified reports claim an Israeli strike killed journalist Hossam Shabat in Gaza.
Caribbean-Latin America: The U.S. conducted a strike on an alleged drug-carrying vessel in the Caribbean Sea and is deploying an aircraft carrier to the region as part of a military buildup. Washington also imposed sanctions on Colombia’s president and family members over alleged drug trade involvement.
Russia Sanctions: Russia’s finance minister acknowledged that approximately $300 billion of the country’s $640 billion in frozen reserves remain inaccessible.
North Korea-Russia: Kim Jong Un stated that military ties between North Korea and Russia will “advance non-stop,” signaling deepening cooperation between the two nations.
Note: Some reports, particularly those from user-posted videos, require independent verification from authoritative sources.