Suspected Drone Strike on Sudanese Hospital Kills 6, Injures 15

Tone & Political Bias: Weakly Center-Leaning

Why: The article reports verified facts without strong emotional or ideological language. It highlights rights group claims but also notes the lack of RSF response, maintaining a balanced structure.

Hospital in North Kordofan Hit by Airstrike

A suspected drone attack reportedly carried out by Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck a hospital in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, on Friday, killing at least six people and wounding 15 others, according to Sudanese rights groups. The facility, Obeid International Hospital, was heavily damaged, forcing a full suspension of its operations.

Rights Group Blames Paramilitary Forces

Emergency Lawyers, a Sudanese human rights monitoring group, attributed the strike to the RSF. The RSF is a powerful paramilitary group currently engaged in an ongoing war with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

According to Emergency Lawyers, the strike was part of a wider artillery offensive targeting El-Obeid, a city under SAF control located about 363 kilometers (225 miles) south of Khartoum.

Hospital Operations Halted

The hospital’s management said in a statement on social media that the facility’s main building sustained heavy structural damage. It added that all medical services at the region’s primary healthcare center have been suspended until further notice. This disruption comes amid widespread shortages of medical supplies and services due to the war.

No Comment From RSF

As of Friday evening, the RSF has not issued any official response to the allegations. The group has previously been accused of carrying out drone attacks, including a deadly strike on a prison earlier this month.

Earlier Strike on El-Obeid Prison

The May 10 incident involved a drone attack that killed at least 20 inmates at El-Obeid’s central prison. That attack, too, was attributed to the RSF by rights advocates, although the paramilitary group did not confirm its involvement. Both incidents form part of a pattern of attacks in government-held areas of North Kordofan.

Broader Context: Sudan’s Civil War

Sudan descended into civil war on April 15, 2023, following a breakdown in relations between the national military and the RSF. What began as a power struggle in Khartoum has evolved into a full-blown conflict affecting multiple regions.

Both sides have been accused of committing war crimes, including ethnic killings and widespread sexual violence, especially in the western Darfur region.

Humanitarian Crisis Worsens

According to the United Nations and international watchdogs, the war in Sudan has triggered the world’s largest humanitarian disaster in recent history. Over 14 million people have been displaced, and parts of the country are now facing famine-level conditions. Thousands have been killed, while infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and shelters, continues to be destroyed by ongoing fighting.

What to Watch

RSF accountability: Whether the RSF will issue a statement or accept responsibility for the strike.
International response: Potential reaction from the UN or humanitarian groups, especially regarding the targeting of medical facilities.
Civilian protection: Increased scrutiny over the safety of non-combatants and critical infrastructure amid expanding aerial warfare in Sudan.