Dozens of people reportedly died following a drone assault launched by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeting key locations within Sudan’s South Kordofan state, according to local media reports.
The strikes reportedly hit multiple areas in Dilling, including the Sudanese army’s 54th Brigade headquarters and the central market, as cited by the Sudan Tribune, referencing local medical groups. This aggressive action occurred just one day after the government-aligned Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) announced they had successfully lifted the long-standing RSF siege on Dilling, securing vital supply routes.
Dilling occupies a critical geographic position, situated midway between the besieged state capital of Kadugli and el-Obeid, the administrative center of North Kordofan, which the RSF is attempting to encircle. Since regaining control, Dilling has faced continuous drone incursions that have reportedly damaged essential infrastructure and resulted in casualties.
Military sources informed the Sudan Tribune that the RSF is attempting to reestablish its blockade around the area, although the SAF continues to maintain its hold and repel assaults near the strategic town of Habila in North Kordofan. Amid these renewed clashes, the Sudan Doctors Network issued an urgent appeal for the establishment of a humanitarian corridor to facilitate the delivery of necessary medical supplies and food.
The humanitarian situation remains dire, with local sources confirming severe shortages of health services and critical supplies, particularly intravenous fluids. The conflict between the SAF and RSF, which began in April 2023, has generated the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis, according to United Nations assessments.
Following their expulsion from Khartoum in March, the RSF has concentrated military efforts on the Kordofan region and the city of el-Fasher in North Darfur, which was the military’s final major stronghold in Darfur until its seizure in October. Allegations of mass killings, abductions, and looting emerged after the fall of el-Fasher, prompting the International Criminal Court to launch a formal investigation into potential war crimes by both factions.
While Dilling has reportedly experienced severe hunger, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification did not formally declare famine there in its November assessment due to insufficient data collection capabilities. However, the UN confirmed famine conditions existed in Kadugli, which has been under RSF siege for over eighteen months, highlighting the severe food insecurity gripping the region.
