Khartoum: At least 11 civilians were killed, including three children, by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Kordofan State in western Sudan, local doctors said on Sunday.

According to Anadolu Agency, Sudan Doctors Network reported that 31 other people were injured in the attack, including nine women, some of whom were pregnant. The incident targeted the Shaq Al-Noum area, marking a significant violation of humanitarian norms and international conventions.

The Sudan Doctors Network urged the international community, including the United Nations and African Union, to take immediate and serious action to halt these systematic violations and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

In response, the RSF accused the Sudanese army of conducting deadly airstrikes using barrel bombs on residential neighborhoods in Al-Fulah, West Kordofan State. The rebel group described the strikes as a continuation of the army's campaign of ethnic cleansing and genocide, although there was no comment from the Sudanese army on these allegations.

North Kordofan has experienced an increase in attacks amid ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF. The war, which began in April 2023, has resulted in over 20,000 deaths and displaced 14 million people, according to the UN and local authorities. However, research from US universities suggests the death toll may be around 130,000.