Kathmandu— Fighting has intensified in Sudan as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) renewed their assault on the strategically important city of El Obeid this week, with simultaneous reports of drone strikes impacting areas including the capital Khartoum and the Kordofan region. The escalation marks a continuation of the civil war that erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the RSF, stemming from a power struggle between army generals Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo ‘Hemedti’ over Sudan's transition to civilian rule. The conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and millions displaced, despite stalled regional and international peace efforts.

El Obeid Under Attack

Eight drones targeted El Obeid, prompting the Sudanese military to activate its air defenses, according to reports from witnesses and local sources. Medical sources confirmed that two people were killed and several others wounded in the attacks. The city of roughly half a million residents, including approximately 100,000 internally displaced persons, has become a key flashpoint in the battle for Sudan’s Kordofan region.

Widespread Drone Strikes Reported

Beyond El Obeid, drone attacks were reported in Khartoum, Bahri, Atbara, and other locations across the country. Witnesses stated that one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) crashed into the courtyard of a mosque in Bahri. Neither the RSF nor the SAF has claimed responsibility for these strikes as of Wednesday.

Regional Tensions and Accusations

Sudan’s government has accused multiple external actors of supporting the RSF, naming Colombians and Ukrainians among mercenaries backing the paramilitary group against the army. Khartoum also recently accused Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates of involvement and criticized the European Union for having an “incomplete understanding” of the situation. Relations with neighboring Kenya have deteriorated, leading to a severance of ties, amid mistrust surrounding regional mediation efforts.

Recent Battlefield Developments

The renewed fighting follows a series of battlefield gains by the SAF in recent weeks. The Sudanese army recently recaptured Kurmuk in Blue Nile state and regained control of several areas in North Kordofan from the RSF, including Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, and Um Sayala. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited frontline positions in the region following these gains. Simultaneously, fighting has intensified hundreds of kilometers to the southeast in Sudan’s Blue Nile region, with RSF forces launching an assault on the border town of Geisan.

Aerial attacks continued Thursday, with reports indicating a second consecutive day of drone strikes targeting areas around Khartoum and Omdurman. The ongoing conflict shows no immediate signs of de-escalation.

(With inputs from RT)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.