160 people reported killed in escalating drone attacks across Sudan

Rights groups warn increasing attacks by unmanned aircraft are targeting civilians and infrastructure.A wave of drone attacks across Sudan has killed more than 160 people in recent days, according to medics and rights groups.Drone attacks on Khartoum killed three children on Monday, according to Emergency Lawyers, a group that monitors violence against civilians in Sudan’s civil war, while more than 160 were reported to have been killed in western regions since Friday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Air strike in Sudan kills UN aid truck driver: WFPlist 2 of 3Conflict, drought increasing risk of famine in Sudan: Monitorlist 3 of 3Sudan cannot afford to dismiss a chance for dialogueend of listThe attacks were blamed on both the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and government forces, They have been fighting since 2023, but the increasing use of drones in recent months has caused growing numbers of civilian casualties.The deadliest recent attack was near a market on Sunday evening in Al-Dibab town in the southwestern state of West Kordofan, which is controlled by the RSF. Residents and medical workers said a drone attacked a transport hub where villagers had gathered after a market day to find rides home, killing 80 people.Another 47 wounded people were taken to the nearby town of Al-Mujlad, where 30 later died from their injuries, a medical source said, according to the AFP news agency.The RSF’s self-declared administration, known as Tasis, and Emergency Lawyers accused the army of carrying out the attack.Dams attackIn eastern Sudan, a military source said on Sunday that air defences intercepted several RSF drones targeting the Atbara and Setit dams in Gadaref state, about 420km east of Khartoum. There was no immediate comment from the RSF.Early on Monday, another drone attack hit the RSF stronghold of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. Medical and RSF sources said 17 people, including seven RSF officers, were killed and 23 wounded.