Drone strikes on Wednesday and Thursday targeted Malha town and the Al-Zarq area of North Darfur, killing and injuring civilians and members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and destroying combat vehicles, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
Residents said a drone hit RSF positions in Malha on Wednesday evening, followed by a strike on the city’s “guesthouse” headquarters on Thursday morning that triggered fires and heavy smoke. Medical sources reported that the wounded were taken to Malha Rural Hospital, with critical cases transferred to Nyala in South Darfur.
Following the attacks, the RSF banned the use of Starlink satellite devices in Malha on Wednesday, prompting residents to seek nearby villages to contact relatives.
In a statement, the Sudan Foundation Alliance condemned what it called a “heinous massacre,” adding that SAF drones struck Al-Zarq market on Thursday, killing and injuring dozens of civilians, mostly women and children. The Alliance said the strike hit a civilian area with no military presence, calling it a war crime and a violation of international humanitarian law, and pledged to pursue legal action against those responsible, including the drone manufacturer.
Malha has been under RSF control since March after clashes with joint forces allied to General al-Burhan’s army (SAF). Darfur has seen repeated drone attacks for months — widely attributed by residents to the SAF — causing heavy civilian and material losses in several cities, including Nyala.
