Deadly Drone Strike Targets Religious Gathering in Atbara, Sudan Amid Ongoing Conflict
Griffith Sarah
Apr 3, 2024
In a devastating incident on Tuesday, a drone strike targeted a religious gathering in Atbara, a city in northern Sudan's Nahr al-Neel State, resulting in multiple casualties.
The state's security committee reported that the assault occurred during an evening prayer session following the iftar meal, leaving several attendees dead and injured. The victims were promptly taken to medical facilities for treatment.
Local sources identified the targeted group as the al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade, an Islamist faction, which was partaking in an iftar meal post-sunset prayer when the drone attacked.
Eyewitness accounts suggest the attack resulted in seven fatalities and approximately 17 injuries, although official figures are yet to be released.
No organization has claimed responsibility for this harrowing event as of now. The al-Baraa Bin Malik Brigade is known for its alignment with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in their conflict against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Omdurman, just northwest of Sudan's capital, Khartoum.
Sudan has been embroiled in a violent confrontation between the SAF and RSF since April 15, 2023, with the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (Acled) Project documenting around 13,900 deaths due to the ongoing strife.
