At least 12 people have been killed and 30 injured in a drone attack targeting an Islamist militia. The attack occurred in Atbara, located 300 kilometers northeast of Khartoum.
Until now, Atbara had been spared from the clashes between the army and paramilitaries. The city is a stronghold of the Sudanese army, strategically positioned on the route to Port Sudan, where the government loyal to the army has taken refuge.
According to a witness cited by Agence France Presse, the drone attack occurred during an iftar, the breaking of the fast. The meal, attended by civilians and militia members, was organized at the base of the Baraa Islamist militia, which fights alongside the Sudanese army.
Drone strikes reportedly caused an explosion, leading to panic among the population. A medical source contacted by AFP stated that the bodies of the victims and the wounded were transferred to the city’s hospital.
The attack has not been claimed yet. On Monday, El-Fasher was targeted by the Sudanese army. According to Tom Perriello, the U.S. envoy for Sudan, army planes bombed the capital of North Darfur, resulting in civilian casualties.