Sudan army repels RSF drone strikes on El Obeid, says aircraft downed

September 20, 2026 (EL OBEID) – Sudan’s army on Sunday said it repelled a major drone attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces targeting civilian and military infrastructure, including its regional headquarters, in the central city of El Obeid.

El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, has come under repeated drone bombardment in recent months. The strikes have killed numerous civilians and hit key public infrastructure, including schools, universities and hospitals.

Local sources told Sudan Tribune that several explosive-laden drones struck sites across the city at dawn.

The strikes targeted the headquarters of the 5th Infantry Division, the military’s main base in the region, along with areas near El Obeid Airport and a finance ministry building, triggering loud blasts, the sources said.

In another part of North Kordofan, the military said air defence systems intercepted an unmanned aerial vehicle.

“With the help and grace of God, our air defences today managed to shoot down a hostile FH-95 drone north of the Al-Kukaiti area in North Kordofan state,” the armed forces’ spokesperson said in a statement.

The incident comes amid intensified fighting across North Kordofan following a military counter-offensive launched in the middle of last week, the army’s largest in the area in months.

The push has allowed government forces and allied groups to regain ground, pushing RSF fighters toward the state’s western edge.