Sudan drone strikes kill over 1,000 civilians in 2026, UN warns of new phase in three-year war
The United Nations has reported that more than 1,000 civilians have been killed in drone strikes across Sudan since the beginning of 2026, underscoring what international observers describe as a dangerous new phase in the country’s three-year-old civil war.
According to the UN, the rapid expansion of drone warfare represents a turning point in the conflict, with both warring sides increasingly turning to unmanned aerial systems to target opponents and, in many documented cases, populated areas including markets, residential neighborhoods and displacement sites. The shift toward remotely operated weapons is reshaping the battlefield, making it increasingly difficult for civilians to find safety even far from the front lines.
A worsening humanitarian emergency
The escalation in drone strikes comes amid what the United Nations has characterized as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The fighting, which erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, has forced millions of people from their homes. Famine conditions have been confirmed in parts of the country, and aid agencies have repeatedly warned of catastrophic levels of food insecurity, malnutrition and disease. The growing use of drones, humanitarian organizations say, is further complicating relief operations and deepening the suffering of civilians caught in the conflict.
Threats to civilians and international law
Human rights monitors have raised alarms about the apparent disregard for civilian protection reflected in the rising casualty toll. Aerial attacks, while capable of precision in some contexts, can inflict significant harm when deployed in densely populated areas, and accountability for individual strikes has proven elusive. The UN has called on all parties to the conflict to respect international humanitarian law and to take immediate, verifiable steps to protect non-combatants.
International response
The findings were reported by FRANCE 24 regional correspondent Bastien Renouil, who has covered the Sudanese conflict extensively. The international community has struggled to mount an effective response, with diplomatic efforts repeatedly stalled and ceasefire agreements collapsing shortly after being announced. As the war grinds on, the proliferation of drone technology on the battlefield is expected to remain a defining feature of the conflict, with profound and lasting consequences for Sudan’s civilian population.
Source: FRANCE 24 — read the original report.
