Mellit, July 19 (Darfur24)
Residents of Mellit, about 65 kilometers north of El Fasher in North Darfur State, said the town came under heavy drone bombardment on Saturday, leaving civilians dead and injured.
A resident, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Darfur24 that a drone, believed to have been operated by the Sudanese army, approached from the northeast and carried out strikes targeting the customs headquarters, the Al-Zariba market northwest of the town, and a gathering of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters on the outskirts of Mellit.
The witness said the strikes triggered widespread panic among residents, noting that the attack coincided with the town’s weekly market day, when large numbers of civilians had gathered.
Another resident told Darfur24 that the bombardment killed and wounded civilians in the Al-Zariba area. The injured were taken to Mellit Rural Hospital for treatment, although the number of casualties could not be independently verified.
Sudan has been engulfed in conflict since April 2023 between the Sudanese army and the RSF. Both sides have increasingly relied on drones to conduct strikes, including attacks in areas where civilians are present, raising concerns over the growing impact of the war on civilian populations.