El-Fasher: The Sudanese army reported that four additional civilians were killed and nine others injured due to artillery shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur in western Sudan.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Sixth Infantry Division in El-Fasher stated that the army successfully repelled an RSF assault, cutting off a supply line and resulting in the deaths of 10 militants. Additionally, five military vehicles were destroyed, and three others were seized. The army's statement highlighted that the RSF militia conducted indiscriminate shelling on several neighborhoods of El-Fasher on Wednesday night, leading to the civilian casualties. The RSF has not yet commented on the incident.
Separately, witnesses reported to Anadolu that fierce clashes involving heavy arms were ongoing between the army and RSF in West Kordofan state, particularly in En-Nahud, which remains under army control. The RSF had seized El-Fula, the state's capital, last June but has been unable to control key cities like En-Nahud and Babanusa.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in El-Fasher. His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, conveyed Guterres' alarm over the catastrophic situation in North Darfur, highlighting recent deadly attacks on El-Fasher and the famine-stricken Zamzam and Abu Shouk displacement camps.
El-Fasher has been a conflict hotspot since May 2024, despite international warnings about the risks of fighting in the city, a vital hub for humanitarian operations in the Darfur region. Earlier this month, the RSF claimed control over the Zamzam refugee camp after clashes with the army, leaving at least 400 civilians dead and nearly 400,000 displaced, according to UN figures.
The conflict between the RSF and the Sudanese army has been ongoing since April 15, 2023, leading to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises with over 20,000 deaths and 15 million displaced, according to the UN and local authorities. US researchers estimate the death toll at around 130,000.