Artillery Strike Hits Dilling Market, Killing Four Amid Escalating Fighting

Dilling, April 11, 2026 - At least four people were killed and 13 others injured after artillery fire struck a central market in the city of Dilling, in South Kordofan, as fighting continues between Sudanese forces and armed groups. Local sources reported that the shelling targeted a busy market area, causing significant destruction. Four shops were completely destroyed, while at least seven others sustained partial damage. The attack is attributed to a coalition involving the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, although independent verification remains limited. The incident forms part of a broader escalation in hostilities around Dilling, South Kordofan’s second-largest city. Armed groups have reportedly intensified their use of heavy artillery and drones in recent weeks, with repeated strikes affecting civilian infrastructure, including health facilities, schools, and industrial sites. Despite periodic ground offensives by the RSF and allied fighters, the Sudanese army has so far maintained control of the city, repelling attempts to seize it. Dilling remains heavily populated, as civilians displaced by surrounding violence continue to seek refuge there. However, the humanitarian situation has deteriorated sharply. Local activists warn that medical facilities are overwhelmed, with many healthcare workers having fled during prolonged periods of siege. Those remaining face acute shortages of essential medicines and equipment. Access to the city has fluctuated amid shifting frontlines. After months of isolation, army forces and allied units reopened supply routes earlier this year, only for access to be disrupted again as fighting resumed. Renewed clashes in early April reportedly led to temporary gains by government forces in nearby strategic areas. The situation in Dilling highlights the growing toll of Sudan’s protracted conflict on civilians, as urban centers increasingly become focal points of sustained military operations.