Artillery shelling kills nine civilians, including three children, in Sudan

At least nine civilians, including three children, were killed in an artillery bombardment targeting residential neighborhoods in the Sudanese city of Dilling on Wednesday. The attack in South Kordofan state is the latest incident in a brutal conflict that continues to claim civilian lives and displace tens of thousands.

Attack details and attribution

The Nuba Mountains Platform, a Sudanese civil society organization, reported that the shelling struck Dilling, a city that has been under a prolonged siege. In a statement, the group attributed the attack to forces belonging to the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N), a rebel faction led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu that is allied with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The bombardment killed six adults and three children, wounding several others. There was no immediate comment from the army, the SPLM-N, or the RSF regarding the incident.

Military response and ongoing siege

Following the shelling, the platform reported that Sudanese army forces launched a counter-attack on the Taital area in South Kordofan, believed to be the source of the artillery fire, and claimed to have taken control of it. The cities of Kadugli and Dilling have been besieged by RSF and SPLM-N forces since the early stages of the war over two years ago, subjected to repeated artillery and drone strikes that have trapped and endangered civilians.

Broader conflict landscape and humanitarian toll

The three Kordofan states have become a fierce battleground in the nationwide war between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the RSF, which began in April 2023. The RSF controls the five states of the Darfur region, while the army holds most other territories, including the capital, Khartoum. The conflict has killed thousands and displaced millions, creating a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. The international community, including nations like Türkiye which has provided aid and called for peace, continues to urge an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access to prevent further loss of innocent life.