--- title: "The Drone War Over Kordofan: Why el-Obeid Is" description: "Drone strikes on el-Obeid mark a dangerous escalation in Sudan's civil war, as RSF and SAF forces turn Kordofan into a new front in the fight for control." url: "https://modeldiplomat.com/story/the-drone-war-over-kordofan-why-el-obeid-is" --- # The Drone War Over Kordofan: Why el-Obeid Is Escalating drone strikes highlight Kordofan's strategic importance. Model DiplomatJune 12, 20263 min readAfrica [AFP and APDrone strikes on central Sudanese city kill up to 23: NGO | Sudan war News | Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/11/drone-strikes-on-central-sudanese-city-kill-up-to-23-ngo)[BBCSudan war: Deadly drone strike targets funeral procession in el-Obeid, rights groups say](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70yeee2jvqo)[AFP and AnadoluRights group says drone strike kills 11 in central Sudan market | Sudan war News | Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/6/rights-group-says-drone-strike-kills-11-in-central-sudan-market) ## The Drone War Over Kordofan: Why el-Obeid Is Sudan’s New Epicenter *A deadly wave of drone strikes in central Sudan underscores a dangerous escalation in the battle for Kordofan's strategic trade and oil corridors.* A series of devastating overnight drone strikes on the central Sudanese city of el-Obeid has killed up to 23 people and injured 19 others, according to local rights group [Emergency Lawyers](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/11/drone-strikes-on-central-sudanese-city-kill-up-to-23-ngo "aljazeera.com"). The attacks, which began on June 10, targeted residential neighborhoods, a local airport district, areas near a military base, and a funeral procession at a cemetery, according to the [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70yeee2jvqo "bbc.com"). While the paramilitary **Rapid Support Forces** (RSF) have not claimed responsibility, municipal hospital officials and local legal networks have blamed the group, which has partially encircled the army-held city for months. The incident marks the latest flashpoint in an intensifying drone air war that is rapidly shifting the power dynamics of [Global Politics](https://modeldiplomat.com/discover/general "modeldiplomat.com") in northeast Africa. ## The Battle for the Central Axis The Kordofan region has emerged as the pivotal front line in Sudan's multi-year civil war. Geographically, Kordofan serves as the country's most vital east-west transit corridor, connecting the RSF’s western stronghold of Darfur to the army-controlled capital of Khartoum and eastern ports, as explained by [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/16/drone-strike-on-busy-market-in-sudan-kills-at-least-28 "aljazeera.com"). Control of el-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, is the ultimate prize on this axis. Because the city sits atop critical highway networks and oil pipelines, the regular **Sudanese Armed Forces** (SAF) have fiercely defended their military garrison there. By cutting off el-Obeid, the RSF hopes to secure unhindered supply lines to move troops, weapons, and fuel across the country. Conversely, the SAF is using the city as a staging ground to launch counter-offensives and break the siege. ## The Internationalized Skies The deployment of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in Kordofan has escalated dramatically, transforming what began as a ground infantry conflict. According to the United Nations, hundreds of civilians were killed in drone attacks across Sudan in the first four months of 2026 alone, as reported by [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/11/drone-strikes-on-central-sudanese-city-kill-up-to-23-ngo "aljazeera.com"). This aerial escalation is fueled by foreign arms. The RSF has relied heavily on sophisticated, long-range Chinese CH-95 drones, which the Sudanese government alleges are supplied via the **United Arab Emirates** through neighboring countries, according to the [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjwz6z14w65o "bbc.com"). To counter this, the SAF has leveraged Turkish-made Bayraktar Akinci combat drones. The military government has also taken aggressive diplomatic steps to choke off the RSF's regional support, recently [recalling its ambassador](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/5/6/sudan-blames-ethiopia-uae-for-recent-drone-attacks-what-we-know "aljazeera.com") to Ethiopia after accusing Addis Ababa of permitting UAE-funded RSF drones to fly out of Ethiopian airspace. ### What to Watch Next The immediate indicator of where this conflict is headed lies in the **Umm Sumaima** front, a town east of el-Obeid that acts as the last defensive outpost for the army before the capital of North Kordofan, as tracked by the [BBC](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx209jr79gko "bbc.com"). If RSF forces manage to pierce this perimeter and establish permanent launch zones closer to the city, the blockade will likely tighten into an outright assault. Keep a close eye on SAF drone activity along the Libyan and Chadian border entry points; any successful interdiction of RSF supply convoys there will determine whether the military can sustain its defense of el-Obeid. [Sudan](https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/sudan)[Kordofan](https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/kordofan)[Drone Warfare](https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/drone-warfare)[Civil War](https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/civil-war)[Rsf](https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/rsf)[Saf](https://modeldiplomat.com/tag/saf) Discover more [Global Politics](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/un-reports-unprecedented-sexual-violence-in) #### [UN Reports Unprecedented Sexual Violence in  ](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/un-reports-unprecedented-sexual-violence-in) [A UN report documents 546 verified incidents of sexual violence in Sudan's war, exposing unprecedented abuses and mounting human-rights atrocities in conflict.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/un-reports-unprecedented-sexual-violence-in) [International Relations](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-warns-of-atrocities-in-el-obeid) #### [US Warns of Atrocities in El-Obeid](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-warns-of-atrocities-in-el-obeid) [Washington warns of imminent atrocities as RSF fighters encircle El-Obeid, raising alarms of genocide and a deepening civilian crisis across Sudan's frontlines.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-warns-of-atrocities-in-el-obeid) [Conflict & Security](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-and-un-warn-of-atrocities-in-al-ubayyid) #### [US and UN Warn of Atrocities in Al-Ubayyid](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-and-un-warn-of-atrocities-in-al-ubayyid) [The US and UN warn of imminent mass atrocities in Al-Ubayyid, Sudan, as RSF forces advance and trapped civilians face a worsening humanitarian catastrophe.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/us-and-un-warn-of-atrocities-in-al-ubayyid) [Conflict & Security](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/29-nations-warn-of-atrocities-in-sudan) #### [29 Nations Warn of Atrocities in Sudan](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/29-nations-warn-of-atrocities-in-sudan) [Twenty-nine nations warn of mass violence in Sudan as drone strikes kill over 1,000 civilians, pressing for global action to halt the deepening crisis.](https://modeldiplomat.com/story/29-nations-warn-of-atrocities-in-sudan)