The Sudanese Rapid Support Forces has renewed its assault on the city of al-Obeid and stepped up drone and land attacks across the country this week following losses on several fronts, according to witnesses.

The RSF has found itself on the back foot lately in its war with the Sudanese army, a conflict that began in April 2023, drawing in foreign powers and creating what the United Nations considers the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

But on Wednesday, witnesses in al-Obeid said the strategically important city in the Kordofan region was targeted by eight drones, triggering army air defences. Two people were killed and others were injured, according to medical sources.

Witnesses in the capital Khartoum and Atbara to the north, among other cities, reported drone strikes as well, the first since May.

In Bahri, part of the wider capital, a drone crashed through a mosque's courtyard in the early morning.

The RSF did not claim the attacks and the Sudanese army did not immediately comment.

In a long RSF campaign for control of al-Obeid, the city has suffered drone attacks and siege tactics that had decimated its power, fuel, food and water supplies, threatening a severe humanitarian crisis.

In recent weeks, the RSF had, under international pressure, paused its assault. Both sides have amassed more forces in the Kordofan region recently, increasing the potential for renewed clashes.

The paramilitaries retain control of the Darfur region in the country's west, where they have started to set up a parallel government, while the army holds most of the eastern half of the country.

Gains by the army in recent months include advances in Kordofan, southeastern Blue Nile state, and West Darfur state.

The army and the RSF shared power after a 2019 popular uprising that led to the overthrow of long-ruling autocrat Omar al-Bashir. Fighting erupted in 2023 over plans to integrate their forces and set the stage for elections. (Reuters)



Edited by Altis Wong