9 more civilians killed by RSF shelling in western Sudan: Army

KHARTOUM, Sudan / ISTANBUL

At least nine civilians, including four children, were killed and seven others injured by paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelling in El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State in western Sudan, the army said on Sunday.

“RSF targeted neighborhoods of El-Fasher city by artillery shelling, resulting in the deaths of nine people, including four children of varying ages,” a military statement said.

Seven injured people were hospitalized for medical attention, the army said.

During a sweep of the city, Sudanese army forces killed six militia members, destroyed three combat vehicles, and disrupted others, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese army regained control of the city of Al-Khuwei in West Kordofan and the town of Umm Sumayyah in North Kordofan following clashes with RSF fighters, according to military and local sources.

A video shared by the Joint Armed Movements Force, a group allied with the army, showed its fighters entering Al-Khuwei and taking over the governor's headquarters in the city.

Local sources, who requested anonymity, told Anadolu that army forces and allied fighters had established full control over the city.

There was no immediate comment from the rebel group on the new development.

Separately, the Sudanese Civil Defense forces announced on Sunday that they have full control over fires triggered since Monday after RSF drone strikes on fuel depots and a power station in Port Sudan.

“All fires in strategic fuel depots and various locations in Port Sudan have been completely controlled,” said the civil defense director, Othman Atta, in a statement.

On Tuesday, Sudanese authorities accused the RSF of being behind the drone strikes on fuel depots at the southern port, the Port Sudan Airport, and a local power facility.

Since April 2023, the RSF has been battling the army for control of Sudan, resulting in thousands of deaths and creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

More than 20,000 people have been killed and 15 million displaced, according to the UN and local authorities. Research from US scholars, however, puts the death toll at around 130,000.