Sudanese army says it downed RSF drone in Blue Nile state

The Sudanese army said Saturday it shot down what it described as a “strategic” drone belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Blue Nile state in southeastern Sudan.

The army’s 4th Infantry Division said in a statement that its air defenses downed the drone in the town of Kurmuk, without recording any casualties among government troops.

The operation “confirms the high level of readiness and operational discipline of the division,” the statement said.

There was no immediate comment from the RSF on the statement.

Earlier Saturday, the Sudanese army said it carried out what it called a “tight ambush” in the Magaja area of Blue Nile state against RSF forces and their ally, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North.

The army said the ambush inflicted “heavy losses” on the RSF and destroyed a large number of military vehicles and equipment.

On Friday, the army said it carried out a preemptive attack south of the Al-Kayli area in Blue Nile state, destroying nine RSF combat vehicles along with their equipment.

In addition to Blue Nile and Darfur, Sudan’s three Kordofan states -- North, West and South Kordofan -- have seen clashes between the army and the RSF since last October.

Sudan has been engulfed in war between the army and the RSF since April 2023, leaving tens of thousands dead and around 13 million displaced, according to UN and international estimates.