SAF Drone Strikes Claim Heavy RSF Losses in North Kordofan; SAF Intercepts RSF Drone Over White Nile

The Sudanese Armed Forces launched drone strikes targeting RSF positions across North Kordofan State on June 5, 2026, with military sources reporting the strikes 'achieved their objectives, inflicting heavy losses on the militia in terms of personnel and equipment, and destroying several sites and vehicles.' North Kordofan remains the central theater of the SAF counteroffensive, with fighting concentrated in and around El Obeid, Dilling, Kadugli, and Babanusa as SAF seeks to consolidate its rolling gains along the RSF Darfur–Kordofan supply corridor. In a separate development on June 5, SAF air defense units also intercepted and shot down an RSF long-range drone over White Nile State, according to reports from Sudan.liveuamap. The White Nile interception follows a string of RSF drone attacks on the state's infrastructure throughout spring 2026, and is the second such confirmed interception over the state since May 31. SAF has progressively deployed anti-drone systems to protect rear-area logistics as RSF demonstrated the capability to strike targets more than 800 km from its Darfur operating bases. The SAF's dual-track approach of offensive drone strikes in contested North Kordofan and defensive interceptions over rear areas reflects an emerging aerial equilibrium in the conflict's third year. SAF losses in the June 5 operations were not disclosed; RSF has not acknowledged the claimed materiel losses.