Al-Sayyah, June 24 (Darfur24)
At least one person was killed and several others were injured on Tuesday when a drone strike, believed to have been carried out by the Sudanese army, hit the main market in the town of Al-Sayyah in North Darfur State, according to eyewitnesses and local sources.
Sources told Darfur24 that the strike targeted the market while Rapid Support Forces vehicles were present nearby, but the attack also struck civilian shops and property, triggering widespread fires and causing extensive damage.
Mansour Al-Hajj, a community leader in the town, said the attack killed Adam Haroun Bakrin and injured several residents. He added that the southern section of the market was completely destroyed by fire after the drone fired multiple missiles into the area.
Eyewitnesses reported that the drone remained over the town for some time before launching more than four successive strikes, prompting traders and residents to flee. The bombardment caused significant destruction, particularly in the southern part of the market.
Traders estimated heavy financial losses, with merchant Abdul Rahman Sayah placing the value of destroyed goods—including sugar, flour and cooking oil—at around 100 million Sudanese pounds. Damage to shops and market infrastructure was estimated at more than 50 million pounds.
The Al-Sayyah market is one of the largest weekly trading hubs in the region, attracting merchants, farmers and pastoralists from Al-Malha, Al-Kuma, Malit and surrounding areas.
The incident follows another reported drone strike last Friday in Sari, Al-Kuma locality, in which a vehicle carrying civilians to a social event was hit, killing 14 people and injuring several others.
The use of drones by the warring parties has increased significantly since the outbreak of conflict between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces in April 2023, raising growing concerns over civilian casualties and damage to populated areas.