The U.S. imposed sanctions on the leader of Sudan's military Thursday, saying he was blocking humanitarian aid and bombing hospitals, schools and markets in a war against an armed rival that has created a widening famine and the world's largest displacement crisis.

The Biden administration takes action against Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, accusing Sudan’s leaders of “blatant disregard of civilian lives” amid the civil war.

The reason for the move was the Sudanese Armed Forces' (SAF) targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure and denial of aid access, as well as refusal to participate in peac