The Sudanese army announced today, Friday, that it has reached the deep positions of the “Rapid Support Forces” (RSF) in the city of Bahri and the Halfaya area, north of the capital, Khartoum.
In a statement on its Facebook page, the Sudanese army confirmed that it carried out a “successful special operation” early this morning, resulting in the death of several RSF members and the destruction of a large number of their vehicles. The Sudanese army also announced the death of 7 of its soldiers and the injury of 28 others in the battles.
On the other hand, the Rapid Support Forces, through their account on the “X” platform, announced that they managed to shoot down an Ababil warplane belonging to the Sudanese army, “which was bombing civilians and populated areas in various Sudanese cities,” noting that the downing of the warplane was part of “military battles.”
The situation in Darfur, Sudan, remains dire amid the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Since the conflict began in April 2023, it has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions of people. The violence has particularly escalated in West Darfur, where ethnic Massalit communities have been targeted in what has been described as ethnic cleansing and potentially genocide.
Human Rights Watch has documented severe human rights abuses, including mass killings, torture, and other atrocities against civilians. The RSF and allied militias have systematically attacked Massalit neighborhoods, leading to large-scale massacres, especially during attempts by civilians to flee the violence.
The international community, including the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, is calling for immediate action to protect civilians and provide humanitarian aid. There are also calls for sanctions and an arms embargo against those responsible for the atrocities in Darfur.