RSF drone strike kills 35 in South Kordofan as siege tightens

December 31, 2025 (DILLING) – At least 35 people, including soldiers, were killed and dozens wounded in a drone strike launched by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the city of Dilling late Tuesday, local sources said.

The attack targeted several areas in South Kordofan’s second-largest city, including the Al-Faraqil neighbourhood and the headquarters of the army’s 54th Infantry Brigade. A medical facility treating wounded military personnel was also hit, according to residents.

The strike occurred hours after the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, announced it had severed the main road between Dilling and the state capital, Kadugli. The move, coordinated with the RSF, effectively reimposes a blockade on both cities, just 10 months after the Sudanese army successfully reopened the route.

The siege of South Kordofan’s urban centres has triggered a humanitarian catastrophe. Local authorities have previously reported cases of starvation in Dilling as food supplies dwindle and international aid remains blocked.

The recent escalation has sparked a fresh wave of displacement, with thousands of civilians fleeing toward North Kordofan. Those escaping face significant risks, including reported abuses by RSF units who control the primary highway linking Dilling to El Obeid.

In a statement on the group’s official website, SPLM-N field commander Loguli Drud said his forces had seized the Karkaria oil pumping station near Dilling. Drud pledged that the rebel group would protect the infrastructure.

Military analysts expect further fighting in the region as the SPLM-N and RSF appear to be preparing for a coordinated ground offensive to take full control of the remaining government-held enclaves in South Kordofan.