At least ten civilians were killed and several others, including women and children, wounded after a drone strike hit a crowded market in Al-Hara, Al-Malha locality, North Darfur, on Saturday, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
Residents said the drone was operated by SAF, accusing the army of deliberately targeting a civilian gathering at the weekly Al-Hara market. The strike caused immediate casualties among traders and shoppers, many of whom were displaced people who had fled violence in nearby towns.
Local sources said Al-Malha has seen a sharp rise in population after waves of displacement from Half, Madu, Jabal Issa and Al-Malha city itself. The weekly market draws traders from across Darfur, making it one of the most crowded civilian sites in the area.
The North Darfur Emergency Chambers Council strongly condemned the attack, describing SAF’s use of drones against a busy civilian market as a crime and a dangerous escalation. The strike reportedly sparked fires in several shops and caused extensive material damage.
In a statement shared on social media, the council called on humanitarian and medical organisations to urgently intervene to evacuate the wounded and provide emergency treatment, warning that local medical facilities are overwhelmed.
The attack follows a pattern of deadly drone strikes blamed on SAF. In November, at least 11 civilians were killed and 18 injured when a drone hit the Tagru mine market near the border between Northern State and the Darfur region.
Despite repeated warnings from rights groups, areas across Darfur have continued to face aerial bombardment, resulting in hundreds of civilian deaths and injuries. Recent strikes have hit Mellit and Fataberno in North Darfur, as well as Kutum, further deepening fears that civilian areas are being systematically targeted.
Since April 2023, Sudan has been locked in a brutal conflict between SAF and the Rapid Support Forces, with drones increasingly used in ways that have blurred the line between military operations and attacks on civilians.
