Beirut – The drone attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on a place of worship in North Kordofan, Sudan, which killed two children and injured 13 others, is a direct attack on a civilian site protected under international humanitarian law.
Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor documented a drone attack by the Rapid Support Forces at dawn on Wednesday, 11 February 2026, targeting the Sheikh Ahmed al-Badawi Mosque in Rahad, North Kordofan, where children were inside attending religious lessons.
Attacking a place of worship with children inside is a serious breach of the principles of distinction, civilian protection, and precautions in attack. It undermines the special protections afforded by international law to places of worship and education.
Any claim of the presence of a military objective does not exempt parties from their duty to perform prior verification, select means and methods of attack that minimise civilian casualties, and avoid launching an attack if it is likely to cause excessive or unnecessary civilian harm.
This attack highlights a concerning pattern of targeting places of worship and involving them in armed conflict. This not only jeopardises the right to life and the freedom to practice religious rites safely but also undermines civilian protection in conflict zones where clashes intensify, and adherence to the laws of armed conflict declines.
The attack occurred amid a rapid deterioration in humanitarian and security conditions in Kordofan. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that 115,223 people were displaced from the North, South, and West Kordofan states between 25 October 2025 and 5 February 2026 due to intensifying clashes and expanding attacks.
The use of drones in densely populated civilian areas, especially when targeting residential neighbourhoods or civilian objects or where civilian casualties are expected, seriously breaches international humanitarian law. This includes violations of the principles of distinction, proportionality, necessity, and the duty to take precautions.
Such acts could constitute war crimes, and their repeated occurrence or occurrence amidst broader assaults on civilians could lead to accountability for crimes against humanity.
All parties to the conflict must spare civilians from hostilities and ensure their protection, and immediately cease any attacks on places of worship, educational institutions, and civilian facilities.
The ongoing lack of accountability reinforces a sense of immunity, promotes the recurrence of crimes, and weakens real efforts to protect civilians and uphold fundamental rules of war.
The UN Security Council should refer crimes related to the ongoing conflict in Sudan to the International Criminal Court. This would allow for a full investigation beyond Darfur's jurisdiction and help secure arrest warrants for those responsible for serious crimes.
Furthermore, the Sudanese authorities should pursue legal measures that allow the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes related to the ongoing conflict.
Euro-Med Monitor urges all parties and involved states in Sudan to immediately cease funding, arming, or politically supporting the machinery of killing and starvation, which violates the human dignity of civilians. It is essential to halt financial, military, and logistical support to all parties to the conflict and to leverage political and diplomatic measures to promote de-escalation, end hostilities, and create space for humanitarian aid and mediation to safeguard civilians.
