Damazin: The Sudanese army announced that drone attacks conducted by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted residential zones and civilian facilities in Damazin, the capital of Blue Nile state in southeastern Sudan.

According to Anadolu Agency, the army's 4th Infantry Division released a statement indicating that its commander, Maj. Gen. Ismail al-Tayeb Hussein, surveyed the damage inflicted on civilian facilities and sites due to these drone strikes. The statement highlighted that the RSF had aimed at populated areas, prompting Hussein to reinforce protective measures for civilians and vital infrastructures in Damazin.

The RSF has not yet commented on the army's statement. Military sources previously informed Anadolu that the army's air defenses intercepted RSF drones targeting Damazin on Monday evening for the second consecutive day. These attacks followed the army's claim of downing an RSF drone two days earlier, which they reported had entered Blue Nile state from near the Ethiopian border.

The army has also reported recent territorial gains, including the capture of the strategic Jabal Kadam area in Blue Nile, and successfully repelling an attack by the RSF and its ally, the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). Blue Nile state is strategically significant due to its proximity to Ethiopia and South Sudan, as well as its essential routes for military movements and supplies.

The ongoing conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which began in April 2023, stems from disputes over the integration of the paramilitary force into the national army. This conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and has displaced approximately 13 million people, as estimated by the UN and other international bodies.