Sudan’s warring parties deliberately target civilians in Darfur airstrikes, report says
July 11, 2026 (KAMPALA) – A devastating pattern of systematic aerial bombardment and drone strikes targeting civilians has consumed the Darfur region of Sudan, according to a comprehensive report published by an international rights group.
The report by The Reckoning Project, documents 17 separate air and drone strikes between October 2024 and April 2026 that have struck marketplaces, hospitals, weddings, and displacement shelters, killing and wounding hundreds of innocent people.
Evidence compiled by investigators shows that both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have repeatedly failed to uphold basic principles of international humanitarian law.
The report details horrific incidents, including a February 2025 SAF airstrike on Cinema Street in Nyala that killed at least 22 civilians, and a March 2025 strike on the Tora weekly market that left up to 450 people dead. It also highlights an alleged RSF drone attack on a mosque in El Fasher in September 2025, which reduced the building to rubble and killed over 70 worshippers during dawn prayers.
Belligerents have increasingly utilized a “double tap” tactic, where an initial bombing is quickly followed by a second strike on the exact same location, intentionally targeting first responders and civilians rushing to aid victims.
The document notes that Sudan has evolved into a drone-dominated conflict with advanced unmanned aerial vehicles supplied by foreign nations heavily fuelling the violence and becoming a leading cause of civilian deaths across the country.
The international community is urged to enforce existing arms embargoes and step up support for local monitors tracking weapon supply chains.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune about the findings, Jehanne Henry, head of the Sudan team at The Reckoning Project (TRP), condemned the widespread nature of the aerial campaign.
“The ongoing attacks on El Obeid demonstrate the same disregard for civilian life as the air and drone strikes on Darfur. As our briefing demonstrates, the strikes on Darfur have targeted hospitals, weddings and celebrations, markets, and commercial trucks,” Henry said. “The rules of international humanitarian law, known as the laws of war, are being completely ignored.”
The Reckoning Project, an international non-governmental organization dedicated to documenting war crimes and closing the gap between atrocities and legal accountability.
While initially focused heavily on documenting atrocities during the war in Ukraine, the group has expanded its investigative programs to conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, ensuring that survivor voices are preserved both for public awareness and as admissible evidence for international litigation.