A drone strike targeting the Sudan Shield Forces has left nine people dead, including seven military personnel, and 14 others injured, marking a significant escalation in Sudan’s ongoing war.

The attack occurred in Jabal Al-Abaytor, a central Al-Butana plain military site, where Sudan Shield Forces—aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF)—were stationed. The militia, formed after the defection of commander Abu Agla Keikel from the RSF in 2024, has played a crucial role in helping the army reclaim Al-Jazirah state and Khartoum.

This strike is the first of its kind against the Sudan Shield Forces, fitting a wider pattern of RSF drone attacks across Sudan. The paramilitary group has targeted strategic oil depots, military bases, airports, and civilian infrastructure, including recent power station strikes in Omdurman.

The intensifying drone warfare signals a dangerous shift in Sudan’s civil conflict, as both SAF and RSF continue to trade accusations of war crimes while escalating their military campaigns.

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