Sudan war: RSF launches attack on Delling

The Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) said they repelled a renewed attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Delling, South Kordofan, yesterday. Clashes between the two warring parties continued in the capital, Khartoum.

According to reports from Delling, battles broke out when a “60-vehicle strong RSF convoy” entered the town and clashed with a SAF force “stationed near the 54th Brigade”.

In a statement yesterday, a government spokesperson said that the RSF “shelled the ancient Delling Grand Mosque, leaving multiple worshippers injured”, adding that the army “successfully repelled the RSF attack, seized multiple vehicles, and inflicted heavy losses in material and personnel” in collaboration with the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North faction led by Abdelaziz El Hilu (SPLM-N El Hilu).

Radio Dabanga could not immediately reach SPLM-N El Hilu to comment on their collaboration.

Listeners in Delling reported that the RSF was able to enter the outskirts of the Delling Grand Market and the southeastern neighbourhoods “before being repelled [by the SAF]”. The RSF reportedly broke into the Um Bakheeta Women’s Hospital in Delling, where they “threatened workers and took their mobile phones”.

The Sudanese Air Force bombed eastern Delling in retaliation, sources said, “after fighting ceased on the ground”. The situation was said to have calmed down by Wednesday evening.  

In Dibebad, 56 kilometres north of Delling, witnesses said they saw “a convoy of RSF vehicles, coming from the direction of Delling,” heading towards an RSF station in the town and “transporting wounded fighters”.

As reported by Radio Dabanga yesterday, fears of an new RSF attack on Delling were mounting after SAF warplanes attacked RSF positions in Dibebad, South Kordofan, on Monday.

In the capital, SAF-RSF clashes continued yesterday near the SAF General Command in central Khartoum and near El Shajara Military Complex in western Khartoum.