A drone strike targeting the family home of Abu Aqla Kaykal, a commander aligned with Sudan’s army, killed nine relatives near the capital of Al-Jazirah state, local militia sources reported Sunday. The attack occurred Saturday in the village of Al-Kaheli, approximately 40 kilometers east of Wad Madani.

The sources identified the victims as including two of Kaykal’s brothers, Azzam and Haidar, a relative named Siddiq Bakhti—also a commander within the Sudan Shield Forces—and six children from the family. The strike damaged the family home and several neighboring houses. The sources attributed the attack to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary group that has been in conflict with Sudan’s army since April 2023.

Abu Aqla Kaykal previously served as a commander within the RSF in Al-Jazirah state before defecting to the army in October 2024. Following his defection, his fighters joined military operations that helped the army regain control of strategic areas in central Sudan, including Al-Jazirah and the capital, Khartoum. Both the Sudan Shield Forces, which Kaykal commands, and the RSF have been accused by various parties of atrocities during the ongoing conflict.

Kaykal himself has faced allegations of abuses against civilians both during his tenure with the RSF and after joining the army side. During his time with the RSF, he was reportedly involved in besieging entire villages in Al-Jazirah state.

The war in Sudan, now in its fourth year, has caused widespread devastation, with death toll estimates ranging from tens of thousands to over 200,000 and millions displaced. Fighting has intensified in recent months, with increased drone strikes reported from multiple fronts, including Khartoum, Darfur, southern Kordofan, and Blue Nile state.

Neither the RSF nor the Sudanese army has officially commented on the drone attack near Wad Madani. The escalating violence continues to exacerbate one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.