Drone strikes kill civilians in North Darfur’s Karnoi
May 12, 2026 (KARNOI) – Drone strikes targeted civilian vehicles in the town of Karnoi, North Darfur state, on Tuesday, causing several casualties and destroying property, according to the local emergency room.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) launched a large-scale military operation in the northwestern districts of North Darfur in March, seizing control of the Um Baru and Karnoi areas. While the RSF has repeatedly attacked the border town of Tina, the Sudanese army and its allies in the Joint Force have so far repelled those assaults.
The Karnoi Emergency Room said in a statement that a drone strike hit the local market, specifically targeting civilian vehicles travelling from Tina to Kutum. The attack resulted in the loss of lives and the destruction of several transport trucks.
The statement added that the bombing extended to the “Am Saleh” well, a primary water source for the region. The strike reportedly disabled the well entirely and killed a significant number of livestock, further crippling the livelihoods of local residents.
The emergency committee condemned what it described as the deliberate targeting of civilians and vital infrastructure. It stated that the bombardment of markets, water wells, and transport routes constitutes a clear violation of international humanitarian law.
Local authorities warned that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly. There is an urgent need for medical evacuations, with calls to transport critically injured survivors to Tina Hospital across the border in Chad.
The statement called for immediate intervention to rehabilitate water sources and provide compensation to families who lost their livestock. It also appealed to international organizations to provide emergency shelter, medicine, and medical supplies.
The emergency room urged the international community to intervene to protect civilians, open safe corridors, and provide urgent relief to those affected by the ongoing hostilities in the region.