Air and artillery strikes strafe Darfur, Kordofan

Nine people were reportedly killed and 39 others injured as a result of air and artillery bombardments in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur, on Sunday a medical source from the El Fasher Southern Hospital says. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), claim to have taken full control over Mellit in North Darfur. Warplanes of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) launched four air strikes on RSF targets in Um Rawaba in North Kordofan.

Mohamed Dormi told Radio Dabanga from El Fasher that the warplanes renewed their bombing of targets in the northern and eastern parts of the city on Sunday afternoon. The RSF responded with anti-aircraft weapons. Callers reported clouds of smoke rising from the road linking the Um Defso livestock markets, with reports of mortar shells falling in the El Azma and El Gadi neighbourhoods in southern El Fasher.

A medical source from the El Fasher Southern Hospital told Radio Dabanga that nine people were killed and 39 others were injured as a result of the bombing. Ismail Kharif told Radio Dabanga that a number of houses have been destroyed as a result of the bombings. He pointed out that two artillery shells fell in Blocks 9 and 13 of the Abu Shouk camp, which led to deaths and wounded.

Effects of aerial bombardment in El Fasher – Image source: El Fasher Resistance Committees page

‘Mellit under control’

The RSF claim to have gained full control over Mellit. They claim to have taken control of military sites formerly used by combatants of the rebel groups headed by Jibril Ibrahim, Minni Minawi, and Mustafa Tambour, and have captured 46 vehicles with full equipment, as well as “70 combatants affiliated with the army”.

The RSF said in a statement on X yesterday that they rushed to secure the centre of Mellit locality and form a civilian committee to restore security and stability in Mellit town. They say that that all inhabitants in the area are “safe and secure”.

Maj Gen Ali Yagoub, who commands the RSF in Mellit, said in an audio statement that his forces won fierce battles against the rebel groups and inflicted heavy losses on them.

Witnesses said that Mellit witnessed battles in the southeastern side , stressing that the conditions within the city were safe and that no disturbances had occurred.

A caller told Radio Dabanga that the warplanes of the armed forces launched an airstrike south of Mellit, but he said that there is no information about the targets targeted by the airstrikes.

Mellit is an area of strategic importance as it is a crossroads leading to Darfur from Sudan’s Northern State and Libya.

Bombing in Um Rawaba

The SAF carried out four airstrikes on Sunday morning against RSF targets in Um Rawaba in North Kordofan.

People living in the area say that bandits took advantage of the bombing and began widespread plundering while video clips on social media showed the entry of RSF formations into the town.

The bombing comes after Kabbashi’s visit to Tandelti and his address to Mohajir El Sayyad, who is responsible for controlling Um Rawaba and El Rahad, linking El Obeid to Tandelti and Kosti, after cutting off RSF access to the main road since mid-June 2023.

‘Drones’

People reported from El Gedaref that army anti-aircraft missiles responded to air targets above the Atbara and Setit dam complex, as well as Wad Zayed Airport in El Fashaga on Saturday evening.

The sources said that they were unable to determine whether the targets were drones, civilian, or military aircraft, and denied that any of the targets were shot down.