Sudan: Drone Strike Kills Nine Relatives of Army-Aligned Commander

A paramilitary drone strike in Sudan has killed nine relatives of an army-aligned commander,marking another grim episode in the country’s protracted conflict.

The attack occurred late on May 2,2026,targeting the family home of Abu Aqla Kaykal in Al Kaheli village,about 40 km east of Wad Madani in Al Jazirah state. Sources attributed the strike to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF),which have been at war with the national Army since April 2023.

Among the victims were two of Kaykal’s brothers,another relative who was also a commander,and six children. The strike also damaged nearby homes. Kaykal,a former RSF commander in Al Jazirah,defected to the army in October 2024,contributing to operations that enabled the military to reclaim key regions,including the capital Khartoum.

Now in its fourth year,the conflict in Sudan has claimed tens of thousands of lives,displaced millions,and deepened one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.