A devastating air strike in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, has claimed the lives of 17 people, including five children, and resulted in the destruction of 25 homes. The Yarmouk district was targeted in the attack, heightening concerns over escalating violence and civilian casualties in the ongoing Sudan conflict.
Residents reported that multiple parts of Khartoum were subjected to air strikes, further exacerbating the already dire situation in the war-torn country. Mediators are urgently pushing for a new ceasefire agreement between the warring factions, as the conflict between the Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces enters its third month with no clear resolution in sight.
The protracted war has caused the displacement of approximately 2.2 million Sudanese and claimed hundreds of lives, plunging the Darfur region into a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations. In Khartoum and its neighboring cities of Omdurman and Bahri, the Sudanese army holds an advantage in terms of air power, while the Rapid Support Forces have entrenched themselves in residential areas. Recent air strikes have intensified, targeting residential neighborhoods.
In a speech posted by the army, General Yassir Al-Atta issued a warning to residents, urging them to stay away from homes occupied by the Rapid Support Forces. He emphasized the army’s determination to attack the rebels anywhere, seemingly dismissing ongoing mediation efforts. Such statements only heighten fears for the safety of civilians caught in the crossfire.
The Khartoum health ministry confirmed reports from local volunteers that the Mayo area in southern Khartoum suffered the loss of 17 lives, including five children, and the destruction of 25 homes. This air strike is the latest in a series of attacks on the impoverished and densely populated district, where many residents lack the means to flee the area.
In western Khartoum’s al-Lammab neighborhood, a local resistance committee reported that 13 people were killed in shelling, designating the area as an “operations zone.” Meanwhile, the Rapid Support Forces claimed to have brought down an army warplane in the Nile, west of Khartoum.
Air strikes continued to ravage central and southern Omdurman, resulting in the loss of another life and impacting homes in the Beit al-Mal neighborhood. In the Sharq el-Nil district, three members of a family were killed in a Friday air strike.
The situation in Sudan remains dire, with over 270,000 people seeking refuge in Chad after fleeing the violence in West Darfur. Attacks, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces and allied militias, have claimed the lives of more than 1,000 people, prompting condemnation from residents and the United States.
Within Khartoum, the war has severely disrupted essential services such as electricity, water, and healthcare, leaving millions of residents cut off from vital resources. Additionally, widespread looting has been reported, exacerbating the already dire humanitarian conditions.
As the violence escalates and civilian casualties mount, urgent international attention and humanitarian aid are needed to alleviate the suffering of Sudanese civilians caught in the crossfire of this protracted conflict.
Sources By Agencies
