Kadugli, February 06 (Darfur24)
The city of Kadugli in South Kordofan State came under heavy drone bombardment on Wednesday and Thursday, with strikes targeting government facilities and densely populated residential neighborhoods, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries, according to local sources.
Sources inside the city told Darfur24 that the attacks were the most intense since forces arriving from Dilling had previously broken the siege imposed on Kadugli.
According to the same sources, the governor’s residence was struck by two projectiles, one landing at the gate and another inside the kitchen. Drones also targeted the Grand Market during peak civilian activity, as well as the Kulba neighborhood and other residential areas.
Additional strikes reportedly hit the police headquarters, a vocational training center, and forested areas north of the city.
Sources said several attacks occurred during busy hours, contributing to higher civilian casualties, as many residents were unable to leave the targeted areas in time.
The bombardment brought daily life to a standstill from Thursday morning, with markets and government offices closing. Authorities also temporarily restricted the use of Starlink satellite internet services, allowing access only briefly in the morning and evening, according to residents.
Eyewitnesses reported multiple deaths and injuries, particularly near the Grand Market and the police headquarters, amid a severe shortage of medical supplies and services.
Residents described widespread panic across the city, with shops shuttered, traffic halted on main roads, and many families remaining indoors for safety.
Darfur24 was unable to reach official medical authorities to independently confirm casualty figures or assess hospital conditions due to security challenges and communication disruptions.
On February 3, Sovereignty Council Chairman and Sudanese Army Commander-in-Chief Lieutenant General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan announced that the siege on Kadugli had been lifted after army forces reached the city from Dilling, following earlier operations in Hebeila, an area previously under the control of the Rapid Support Forces and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North.
Since the lifting of the siege, drone attacks on Kadugli have continued, resulting in repeated civilian casualties, according to local sources.