Ankara: Nine civilians were killed, and seven others were injured in an attack by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in South Kordofan, southern Sudan, local medics reported.

According to Anadolu Agency, suicide drones launched by the RSF and its ally, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), targeted a kindergarten and several civilian facilities in the town of Kalogi, as confirmed by a statement from the Sudan Doctors Network. Among the casualties were four children and two women.

The medical group condemned the drone attack, labeling it as 'a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a continuation of the targeting of civilians and vital infrastructure.' The group held the RSF leadership fully accountable and urged the United Nations and human rights organizations to take practical measures to cease such attacks on civilians by the rebel group. As of now, there has been no immediate response from the RSF regarding the report.

South Kordofan, along with North and West Kordofan, has been experiencing intense fighting between the army and the RSF, leading to the displacement of tens of thousands of individuals. The RSF currently controls all five states of the Darfur region in the west, except for certain northern areas of North Darfur, which remain under army control. Conversely, the army maintains control over most parts of the remaining 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum.

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has resulted in at least 40,000 deaths and the displacement of 12 million people, as reported by the World Health Organization.