Sudan's Army Repels Major Assault by Rapid Support Forces on El Fasher

Sudan's army and its allies have successfully fended off a significant ground assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The city has been under siege for weeks, and the attack is part of a broader RSF effort to capture the city, which remains the army's last stronghold in the Darfur region. Fierce fighting broke out in the city's southern axis, with army artillery targeting RSF military vehicles, and eyewitnesses reporting drone strikes on multiple locations. Despite international appeals for a humanitarian truce, the violence continues to exacerbate a dire humanitarian crisis in El Fasher, where hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are struggling to access basic supplies.

Key Takeaways:

• The Sudanese army and its allies repelled a major ground assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.
• The attack was part of a weeks-long RSF offensive to capture the city, which is the army's last stronghold in the Darfur region.
• Fierce fighting took place along the city's southern axis, with army artillery destroying at least six RSF military vehicles, including armored carriers.
• RSF drones struck at least four locations inside the city, according to eyewitnesses.
• Ahmed Hussein Mustafa, a spokesman for the allied 'Joint Force,' claimed a major victory, saying hundreds of RSF fighters were killed and dozens of their vehicles were captured or destroyed.
• The fighting has worsened a dire humanitarian crisis in El Fasher, where hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are trapped with dwindling supplies of food and medicine.
• International appeals, including a recent call by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for a humanitarian truce, have been ignored.
• Aid groups accuse the RSF of tightening its siege on the city and preventing life-saving supplies from entering.

Statistics:

• At least six RSF military vehicles, including armored carriers, were destroyed by army artillery.
• RSF drones struck at least four locations inside the city.
• Hundreds of thousands of displaced civilians are trapped in El Fasher with dwindling supplies of food and medicine.
• The RSF has been accused of tightening its siege on the city and preventing life-saving supplies from entering.

Sources:

• Sudan Tribune
• U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres