In a developing story, Sudan’s army has launched a major offensive in the capital, Khartoum, to regain ground held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The army carried out air strikes on Thursday against RSF positions in the capital and north of Khartoum in its biggest assault in months. The army has taken control of three main bridges, including ones connecting Omdurman with Khartoum. The army’s efforts to retake ground in Omdurman earlier this year have been unsuccessful due to RSF ground forces embedded in Khartoum.
Military sources confirmed that the assault had been planned for months, as artillery and fighter jets were heard overhead during the offensive. The ongoing civil war in Sudan since April 2023 has led to a serious humanitarian crisis, with diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict stalled. The United States and other countries have attempted to mediate, but the army refused to attend talks last month in Switzerland.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan reported from Khartoum that heavy fighting was ongoing as the army attempted to weaken the RSF’s presence in the capital. The goal of the offensive was to “minimize” the RSF’s capabilities in Khartoum. The situation remains fluid, with more updates expected in the coming days.
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Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
