{
  "id": 14027242,
  "title": "72 miners killed in airstrike near Sudan-Egypt border",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/72-miners-killed-in-airstrike-near-sudan-egypt-border",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-12T18:45:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/72-miners-killed-in-airstrike-near-sudan-egypt-border/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Seventy-two artisanal miners lost their lives in an airstrike close to the Sudan-Egypt border, according to rights group Emergency Lawyers. The Egyptian air force is blamed for the attack, which occurred on Saturday. The Egyptian military launched a campaign against illegal gold mining in southern Egypt in June, warning \"criminal elements\" before the incident. However, the military did not mention the airstrike or the deaths in a statement on Monday. Egypt's foreign ministry declined to comment on the airstrike, while Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty stated that he had reaffirmed historical ties with Sudan and commitment to coordination and consultation. Sudan's government confirmed the incident occurred in a border area, promising to investigate the cause and protect borders. Both countries have been in communication since the strike, though Sudan's government refrained from directly blaming Egypt. Reports suggest the airstrike aimed to end chaos and mining area control efforts. Images shared on social media and by rights groups showed the devastation, with bodies strewn among rubble. Emergency Lawyers emphasized that such a cross-border attack would violate international law. Northern Sudan has seen an influx of artisanal miners due to the civil war, which has disrupted traditional livelihoods. Gold mining is crucial for both sides in the conflict, with much of the metal smuggled into Egypt. Airstrikes targeting illegal gold mining operations have occurred in the past, resulting in civilian casualties. The border region is porous and under dispute in the Halayeb and Shalateen areas. The ongoing war between Sudan's army and the Rapid Support Forces has led to an increase in mass-casualty events, particularly with the use of drones in recent fighting.",
  "summary": "Egypt's foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the airstrike",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}