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Investigation reveals deadly pattern of airstrikes in Sudan civil war
A new report by the Sudan Witness Project documents at least 1,700 civilian deaths from air raids conducted by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) since April 2023. The attacks targeted homes, markets, schools, and displacement camps, raising concerns over indiscriminate bombings in populated areas.
Data exposes scale of civilian harm
The Sudan Witness Project, an initiative by the Center for Information Resilience (CIR), analyzed 384 airstrikes between April 2023 and July 2025. The findings, shared in advance with the BBC, reveal that 1,700 civilians were killed and 1,120 injured in verified incidents. Researchers describe these figures as conservative, based on the lowest reported numbers.
Of the documented strikes, 135 hit residential neighborhoods, causing widespread destruction to homes and civilian infrastructure. Another 35 targeted markets and commercial areas, often during peak hours. Vulnerable groups were also affected, with 19 attacks striking health facilities, displacement sites, and educational institutions.
Methodology and challenges
The project relied on open-source intelligence, including social media videos, satellite imagery, and reports from credible sources. However, researchers acknowledge limitations due to poor telecommunications in conflict zones and difficulties verifying claims. Strikes on military targets are likely underreported, while civilian casualties dominate the dataset.
"For us to confirm an airstrike, we typically need verified footage of the SAF in action-a high threshold given the scarcity of such evidence in Sudan. Instead, we analyzed hundreds of claims to identify broader patterns," said Mark Snoeck, who led the investigation.
Sudan Witness Project
The report highlights repeated strikes on residential areas and markets, as well as attacks on humanitarian and medical facilities. Snoeck noted that these patterns suggest the SAF is failing to minimize civilian casualties.
Key incidents and patterns
One of the most disturbing findings involved an undetonated SH-250 bomb discovered in Zamzam displacement camp in North Darfur. The munition, produced by Sudan's Military Industry Corporation, was identified through verified videos and images of the impact crater. The camp was not under Rapid Support Forces (RSF) control at the time of the attack.
In another incident, a rare video captured the moment of an airstrike on Hamrat al-Sheikh Market in North Kordofan. Reports indicate at least 30 deaths and 100 injuries. Many attacks have occurred in Darfur, where the RSF holds sway, including a 2024 strike on a hospital in el-Daein that killed 16 civilians, among them three children and a healthcare worker.
Nyala, a frequent target in South Darfur, has seen repeated bombings near its airport, allegedly used by the RSF to receive weapons from the United Arab Emirates. The SAF claims it targets military supplies, but researchers argue the lack of precision weapons leads to civilian harm. A February 2025 series of strikes in Nyala's city center killed at least 63 people, hitting residential areas and a grocery store near an eye hospital.
Economic and humanitarian fallout
Beyond immediate casualties, the bombings have disrupted economic stability and worsened the humanitarian crisis. In October 2024, an attack on al-Kuma market in North Darfur killed 65 people and injured 200. Satellite imagery confirmed burn scars over the destroyed market, located near el-Fasher, a recent battleground.
"It is impossible for a country's army to bomb its own people and claim it is protecting them," a local official told Dabanga, an independent Sudanese broadcaster.
A British Foreign Office official condemned the attacks, stating: "This evidence shows a clear and unacceptable disregard for civilian safety. Perpetrators of these crimes must be held accountable, regardless of their allegiance."
Shifting tactics and ongoing atrocities
Since July 2025, the conflict has seen a rise in drone strikes by both the SAF and RSF. In October, an SAF drone attack in al-Kuma targeted a social gathering at a religious leader's home, while the RSF struck a displacement center in el-Fasher, killing at least 60 civilians. Analysts argue these attacks are either indiscriminate or intended to terrorize populations under enemy control.
"Neither side uses airpower primarily to hit military targets. The strikes are designed to terrorize civilians, which constitutes a war crime," said Justin Lynch of the Conflict Insights Group.
This week, the RSF and its allies were accused of drone strikes on a kindergarten and hospital in South Kordofan's Kalogi, killing 114 people, including 63 children. Lynch noted that despite the devastation, neither side has achieved significant military gains through aerial warfare.
Accountability and denial
The SAF has not responded to requests for comment but previously denied targeting civilians, stating its strikes focus solely on RSF positions. The RSF, meanwhile, faces international condemnation for alleged ethnic massacres in Darfur, with the U.S. accusing it of genocide.
Both sides have been accused of war crimes, with civilians bearing the brunt of the conflict. The Sudan Witness report, set for release on December 10, underscores the urgent need for accountability amid escalating violence.
