Khartoum – Sudan Now | 19 May 2026

 

Dozens of people were killed and injured on Tuesday following a drone strike that targeted an area inside the market of Ghubaysh city in West Kordofan State, amid conflicting reports regarding the nature of the intended target.

 

Images and circulating footage showed fires breaking out and damage in and around the market following the strike, while local sources reported civilian casualties.

 

According to circulating reports, the strike took place near a restaurant inside the market at a time when it was crowded with civilians, while other reports indicated the presence of a RSF combat vehicle in the area at the time of the attack.

 

Local accounts supportive of the Sudanese Armed Forces said the drones targeted combat vehicles arriving from Nyala, with no official comment from the army at the time of publication.

 

In contrast, human rights groups and platforms affiliated with the RSF accused the Sudanese army of carrying out the strike, reporting that it caused deaths and injuries. However, the final toll and the identities of the victims could not be independently verified.

 

 

 

Rising use of drones in the war

 

The incident comes amid a growing reliance on drones in the war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which has been ongoing since April 2023. The past months have seen a marked expansion in airstrikes and long-range attacks across several states.

 

In recent months, cities and civilian and military facilities across the states of Kordofan, Darfur, Khartoum, and River Nile have been repeatedly targeted in drone attacks, amid mutual accusations between the two sides of the conflict over responsibility for strikes on civilians and infrastructure.

 

 

 

Deteriorating humanitarian situation in West Kordofan

 

West Kordofan State has been witnessing ongoing security and humanitarian deterioration due to repeated clashes between the Sudanese army and the RSF, particularly in areas near supply routes and oil fields.

 

The war has also displaced large numbers of residents and disrupted basic services, amid warnings from the United Nations and human rights organizations of a worsening humanitarian situation as fighting continues and military operations expand across the region.