Rapid Support Forces have increased attacks on Sudanese towns, including a drone strike that killed 14 people in the border town of Al-Tineh [3].

These escalations signal a strategic push by the paramilitary group to seize control of vital resources and transportation routes. The timing coincides with the approach of the rainy season, which often complicates military logistics and intensifies competition for secure territory.

The drone strike in Al-Tineh, located on the border with Chad, occurred on a Monday in October 2024 [3]. Reports indicate that most of the 14 victims were women [3].

Beyond the border regions, the RSF has targeted villages in the Blue Nile state and the Al-Ubayyid market in North Kordofan state [1]. These movements are part of an effort to expand control over areas currently disputed with the Sudanese army [1], [5].

There are conflicting reports regarding the RSF's presence in these sectors. BBC Arabic said that the Rapid Support Forces denied returning to certain combat fronts and denied their presence in some of the affected areas [2]. However, Reuters Arabic said multiple reports confirm the increase in attacks across the Blue Nile and North Kordofan regions [1].

The violence persists as both factions vie for dominance over key infrastructure. The shift toward drone warfare in civilian areas like Al-Tineh highlights the increasing lethality of the conflict's weaponry in populated zones [3].

“A drone strike killed 14 people in the border town of Al-Tineh.”

The expansion of RSF operations into the Blue Nile and North Kordofan states indicates a widening of the conflict's geographic scope. By targeting strategic markets and border towns before the rainy season, the RSF is attempting to consolidate territorial gains that could isolate government forces and secure critical supply lines to neighboring Chad.