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Two Middle Eastern countries have been accused of supplying arms to Sudan's warring factions, flouting UN regulations. A vicious civil war broke out last April between rival factions of
Sudan's government. Troops loyal to the army general Abdel Fattah al-Burhan clashed with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces led by the Janjaweed leader, Hemedeti. As many as 150,000
people may have been killed since then, according to US estimates, with no sign of a let up in the fighting. Military analysts say Iran and the United Arab Emirates are supplying deadly
drones to the rival sides. Sudanese government forces made a major military advance in March, capturing the state broadcaster’s headquarters in the capital, Khartoum. Video images later
confirmed that the attack was carried out with the help of Iranian-made drones. Earlier in January, RSF fighters shot down an army drone, a video of which was soon circulating on social
media channels. Wim Zwijnenburg, a Dutch drone expert, told the BBC that the UAV was almost certainly a Mohajer-6. The drone is 6.5m long, can fly up to 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and carry out
airstrikes with guided free-fall munitions. Later Mr Zwijnenburg, who works for the PAX organisation, identified Zajil-3 drones being deployed on the battlefield. The drone is a locally
manufactured version of the Iranian Ababil-3 UAV and has been used in Sudan for years. The Dutch expert noted: "If these drones are equipped with guided munitions, it means they were
supplied by Iran because those munitions are not produced in Sudan." Evidence has also emerged that the RSF has used quadcopter drones made from commercial components, capable of
dropping 120mm mortar shells. Sudan's army has shot down many of these drones, images of which have ben carefully studied by analysts. Brian Castner, a weapons expert at Amnesty
International, points the finger at the UAE. "The UAE has supplied its allies with the same drones in other conflict areas such as Ethiopia and Yemen,” he said.
