EL OBEID – The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) said on Thursday that its air defenses shot down an FH-95 drone northeast of Al-Kukayti in North Kordofan, the second reported interception of the same drone type in the area within days.
The army’s General Command said the drone was brought down on Thursday morning, describing it as “hostile” but not identifying who launched it.
The incident followed a similar announcement on Sept. 20, when the SAF said its air defenses downed another FH-95 drone north of Al-Kukayti.
The latest interception comes amid intensified fighting across North Kordofan, where the army and allied forces have been conducting ground operations against the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Recent military statements have reported army advances west of El Obeid and the recapture of several areas, including Al-Kukayti and other positions along routes leading toward western North Kordofan.
Those battlefield claims could not be independently verified, and the RSF has not immediately commented on the latest drone interception.
Drones have become an increasingly prominent feature of the conflict in Kordofan. Radio Tamazuj reported that both the SAF and RSF have increasingly relied on unmanned aircraft as fighting intensifies over strategic areas and supply routes in the region.
The latest incident also comes days after drone strikes hit two warehouses in Sheikan locality, destroying more than 330,000 educational supplies, according to UNICEF. The agency did not identify who was responsible for those strikes.
The war between the SAF and RSF began in April 2023 and has expanded across Kordofan in recent months, with both ground offensives and drone operations adding pressure on civilians and infrastructure.
