2025 Saudi Hospital Attack

2025 Saudi Hospital Airstrike
Part of War crimes during the Sudanese civil war (2023–present)
Location	El Fasher, Sudan
Date	January 24, 2025
Attack type	Drone attack
Deaths	70
Injured	19 - 100
Perpetrator	Rapid Support Forces

On 24 January 2025, the Rapid Support Forces hit the Saudi Maternal Teaching Hospital in El Fasher with drones while they were attacking Sudanese Armed Forces positions in the city. ^[1] The attack left at least 70 people dead and was condemned internationally. It is also among the deadliest attacks on the Hospital since the start of the war.

Background

The Saudi Maternal Teaching Hospital was one of the last functioning hospital in El Fasher prior to the attack. ^[2] At the time of the attack, between 70 and 80 percent of all health care facilities in the country had gone out of service. ^{[3] [4]} The hospital had also previously come under shelling, with staff recording 28 deaths and 50 injuries over shelling over the last month. ^[5]

The strike came after recent gains by the SAF, taking control of the El-Jeili oil refinery and breaking the siege of the Signal Corps headquarters in Khartoum. ^[6] The city had been under a siege with the RSF attempting several times to take control of it as it is one of the last strongholds the SAF has in Darfur. ^[7] RSF had also sent a 48 ultimatum for the SAF and allied forces to leave El Fasher previous to the attack. ^{[1] [6]}

Attack

On January 24, 2025, the hospital's emergency ward was hit by drones. ^[8] According to the SAF, the drones were Chinese made Long Wire 2 models operated by the RSF. ^[9] The hospital's emergency and surgical wards were completely destroyed in the attack. ^[9] Although it was not immediately clear who had committed the attack, the Sudanese Foreign Ministry along with many local officials said that the drones were launched by the RSF. ^{[2] [8] [10]} The RSF denied the claims, stating that the SAF had committed the attack and was trying to spread propaganda, but did not give any evidence to prove this. ^{[2] [6]}

Casualties

By January 25, reports stated that the death toll stood at 30 people with dozens more injured, though the death toll rose to 67 later in the day. ^{[3] [11]} The World Health Organization would later report that 70 people had been killed and 19 more had been injured, though the North Darfur health ministry would state that 100 people were injured. ^{[1] [12] [13]} The attack also left at least 4 children, 1 girl and 3 boys, dead and 3 more injured. ^[4]

Reactions

Domestic

Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement calling the strike a heinous crime and a "new embodiment of a genocide strategy" being pursued by the RSF. They also said that the strike was a response to recent defeats, and that it was enabled due to international inaction and the United Nation's security council failing to implement UNSC resolution 2736. ^[13]

International

•   United Nations – The UN's Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan, Clementine Nkweta-Salami, condemned the attack and expressed her solidarity with the people of Sudan. ^[14] The executive director of UNICEF, Catherine M. Russell, said "This heinous attack is a blatant violation of children's rights. Children are being killed and injured in the very places where they should be safest from harm" and called for violence in the country to end. ^[4]
•   United Arab Emirates - Minister of state Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan condemned the attack and reaffirmed the country's position on a peaceful solution to the conflict. ^[15]
•   Iran - Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei condemnded the attack. ^[16]
•   Saudi Arabia - The Foreign Ministry called the attack a violation of international and humanitarian law and called for restraint from both sides to prevent further civilian attacks. ^[17]
•   Pakistan - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs made a statement condemning the attack, expressing sympathy for the victims and their families, and emphasizing the need to protect healthcare facilities and uphold humanitarian principles. ^[18]
•   Kuwait - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that the attack was a clear violation of humanitarian law and sent their condolences to the victims of the attack. They also called for implementing UNSC resolution 2736. ^[19]
•   Canada - In a statement on Twitter, the Foreign ministry strongly condemned the attack and called for the protection of health care workers and facilities under all circumstances. ^[20]

The attack was also condemned by the Arab League, ^[21] the Muslim World League, ^[22] the Gulf Cooperation Council, ^[17] and the Arab Parliament. ^[23]

See also

• October 2024 Sudan airstrikes
• Kabkabiya market airstrike
• May 2023 Mayo shelling
• 2025 Omdurman market attack

References

1. "Scores killed in hospital attack in Sudan's besieged El Fasher, says WHO". The Guardian. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
2. "Dozens killed in drone attack on hospital in Sudan's Darfur". Al Jazeera. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
3. "Drone attack on hospital in Sudan's Darfur kills 30, source says". VOA. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
4. "World News in Brief: Children killed in Darfur hospital attack, date set for US climate pact withdrawal, WHO leads call to fight neglected diseases". United Nations. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
5. "Medics under siege: 'We took this photo, fearing it would be our last'". BBC. 18 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
6. "About 70 people killed in attack on hospital in Sudan's Darfur region, WHO chief says". AP news. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
7. "Sudan: Alarming El Fasher siege, hostilities must end - UN report". Office of the High Commissioner Human Rights. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
8. "Airstrike kills at least 70 seeking care at last functioning hospital in North Darfur capital as Sudan's civil war rages". GhanaWeb. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
9. "Gulf states condemn deadly drone strike on North Darfur hospital". Sudan Tribune. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
10. "Sudan: dozens killed in drone attack on El Fasher hospital, RSF rebels blamed". North Africa Post. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
11. "War in Sudan: Drone strike on hospital kills 67 people". Le Monde. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
12. "Attack on hospital in Sudan's Darfur region kills dozens, says WHO". Middle East Eye. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
13. "Dozens killed in RSF drone strike on hospital in North Darfur". Sudan Tribune. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
14. "Attack on hospital in Al Fasher a shocking violation: UN official". Sudan Tribune. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 30 January 2025.
15. "UAE strongly condemns attack on Saudi hospital in Sudan". Gulf News. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
16. "Iran condemns deadly hospital attack in Sudan's Darfur region". IRNA. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
17. "Saudi Arabia, Gulf bloc condemn attack on Saudi hospital in Sudan's Darfur". Anadolu Agency. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
18. "Pakistan condemns attack in Sudan". The Nation. 27 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
19. "Kuwait condemns targeting Saudi Hospital in Sudan's El-Fasher". KUNA. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
20. "Canada strongly condemns attack on Saudi hospital in Sudan". Anadolu Agency. 28 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
21. "Arab League condemns attack on Saudi Hospital in El Fasher". WAM news agency. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
22. "MWL Condemns Attack on Saudi Hospital in El Fasher". Asharq Al-Awsat. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.
23. "Arab Parliament condemns attack on Saudi Hospital in El Fasher". WAM news agency. 26 January 2025. Retrieved 31 January 2025.