Drone Strike Near Kabum, South Darfur Kills 12 — Attribution Disputed Amid Tribal Clashes

A drone struck a gathering of civilians and military personnel near the town of Kabum (also spelled Kubum), approximately 120 km west of Nyala in South Darfur, on June 1, 2026, killing at least 12 people and leaving multiple others critically injured requiring surgery. Witnesses reported the drone approached from the east, fired at least 3 missiles in two passes, and departed. The Sudan Founding Alliance (TASIS) accused the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) of carrying out the strike, pointing to the drone's eastern approach. However, attribution remains contested: RSF forces have also conducted drone strikes across South Darfur, and the area around Kabum has seen both RSF-deployed forces and inter-tribal clashes between Salamat and Beni Halba communities. Concurrent tribal violence (May 31–June 1) in the Kabum area involved both communities using RSF-supplied weapons and vehicles; fighting spread to the villages of Wastani and Mirkindi in adjacent parts of South and Central Darfur. The overlap of inter-communal violence, RSF vehicle presence, and the drone strike creates a complex attribution picture. Darfur24 documented the strike in detail, with medical sources confirming the casualty figures. The Kabum area has not previously been publicly documented as a drone strike target, suggesting either escalating SAF operations deeper into RSF-held Darfur or RSF counter-militia activity targeting TASIS-aligned formations.