Satellite Images Reveal Mass Killings in Sudan’s Darfur Region

EL FASHER, Sudan — Satellite images and verified videos reveal alarming evidence of mass killings in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, following its capture by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The Humanitarian Research Lab (HRL) at Yale University reported that these killings occurred during a rapid advance of RSF forces.

According to Nathaniel Raymond, a human rights investigator with HRL, images depict clusters of discolored ground consistent with human bodies in various locations, including near hospitals and residential areas. “The alleged killings took place in under 72 hours since RSF took control of the city,” Raymond told ABC News.

HRL’s analysis highlighted the discovery of what appeared to be piles of bodies, particularly in sensitive areas such as the Al-Daraja district, suggesting systematic targeting of civilians. Raymond observed, “We see a tactical posture on the vehicles that is highly consistent with house-to-house killing,” adding that testimonies from fleeing civilians confirmed men were being separated from women and children before gunfire was heard.

Additional findings reported by the lab include pools of blood and objects indicating mass executions, further corroborating witness accounts of brutal tactics employed by the RSF. A significant increase in the number of detected bodies was noted, with none appearing to have been moved since their initial observation.

In light of the evidence, international organizations have warned that the violence in El Fasher may represent a new phase of ethnic cleansing and human rights violations in the ongoing conflict in Sudan. The U.S. State Department previously identified the RSF’s actions as genocide, based on investigations into the Darfur region.

Raymond explained that the RSF’s current operations differ significantly from previous assaults, stating, “Here, they are controlling the entrances and exits of the city systematically, unlike prior attacks where mass destruction was the norm.” The report indicates a worrying trend of escalating violence, with the potential for further atrocities as civilians remain trapped inside the besieged city.

International calls for urgent intervention grow louder as the humanitarian crisis deepens. Witnesses report that those still hiding are primarily women and children, making them vulnerable to the ongoing threat. Raymond warned, “It’s now going to accelerate… Now it’ll be those who were too weak to run or those men who were hiding and trying to protect them from the RSF.”