19 Killed in RSF Shelling of Prison in North Kordofan State
Sudan Events – Agencies
Nineteen people were killed and 45 injured in a shelling by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeting the prison in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, which is under Sudanese army control, according to a medical source.
Meanwhile, Sudanese army aircraft bombed RSF positions in the cities of Nyala and El Geneina in the Darfur region, destroying weapons depots and military equipment, a military source said. The source, speaking to Agence France-Presse on condition of anonymity, said: “Sudanese Air Force jets launched attacks on RSF militia sites in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur, and El Geneina, the capital of West Darfur, destroying weapons depots and military equipment the militia intended to use for hostile operations.”
Earlier on Saturday, 14 Sudanese civilians from one family were reported killed in RSF shelling of the Abu Shouk displaced persons camp in western Darfur, according to humanitarian sources.
The Abu Shouk Emergency Room stated on Saturday that the camp was subjected to “intense artillery shelling by the RSF,” resulting in the death of 14 members of a single family and the injury of several others.
Separately, the Sudanese Armed Forces announced on Saturday that three people were killed and 10 others injured in RSF artillery shelling of neighborhoods in the city of El Fasher, North Darfur, on Friday. The army stated it carried out daily patrols and sweep operations to prevent infiltration attempts and maintain security, confirming that the situation was fully under the control of the armed forces.
Meanwhile, drone strikes continued for the sixth consecutive day on Port Sudan and other cities. A drone attack on Friday ignited a fuel depot fire in the city of Atbara, in River Nile State, causing minor injuries among civilians, according to local sources.
The attack came hours after Sudanese army air defenses intercepted several “suicidal” drones over Port Sudan on Thursday night. Fires continued to blaze at the port’s fuel depot following a drone strike attributed to the RSF.
This marks the sixth consecutive day of relentless drone attacks on Port Sudan, the country’s temporary administrative capital. Residents reported hearing anti-aircraft fire and explosions in the eastern and southern parts of the city, though no official comment was issued by the Sudanese army about the targeted locations.
According to media sources from Asharq Al-Awsat, the drone strikes on the city began early Thursday night and continued into the early hours of Friday morning.
In tandem with the Port Sudan strike, the RSF launched drone attacks on the city of Kassala in the same Red Sea State, as well as the cities of Kosti and Kenana in White Nile State, and Merowe in northern River Nile State.
Over the past days, the RSF has intensified its drone attacks on Port Sudan, focusing on military sites and the “Othman Digna” airbase adjacent to the civil airport, along with main fuel depots.
Local residents told Asharq Al-Awsat that electricity had been cut off in their homes for the sixth day in a row since the attacks began, and the city continued to suffer from a severe fuel crisis.
The persistent attacks have disrupted air traffic at Port Sudan International Airport, forcing several local and regional airlines to cancel scheduled flights to the city.
The Arab League condemned the targeting of vital facilities in Port Sudan.
Sudan’s ambassador to Egypt, Imad al-Din Adawi, stated that essential facilities, power infrastructure, and strategic oil installations had been targeted.
Turkey joined China in urging its citizens to leave Sudan and avoid travel there due to the escalating conflict in Port Sudan. The Chinese embassy in Sudan had on Thursday urged its nationals to leave the country immediately, clarifying via Facebook that the warning applied to individuals, not institutions.
Turkey said in a statement: “In light of the deteriorating security situation, our citizens should avoid travel to Sudan unless absolutely necessary. Those currently in Sudan should exercise caution, and those whose presence is not essential should leave as soon and as safely as possible, by air, land, or sea.”
On Friday, the Sudanese army accused the RSF of shelling neighborhoods in El Fasher, North Darfur, on Thursday, leading to civilian casualties.
The “6th Infantry Division” in El Fasher said during a press briefing that army forces and allied factions intercepted RSF members in 26 combat vehicles, which were completely destroyed. The army also reported neutralizing and injuring dozens of RSF fighters.
The “El Fasher Resistance Committees Coordination” (a local activist group) reported that heavy RSF artillery shelling over the past three days caused civilian deaths and injuries.
It also noted a total collapse in healthcare services due to the shutdown of public hospitals and private medical facilities as a result of the siege imposed on El Fasher since last year.
Separately, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) warned that every day without peace in Sudan leads to more loss of life amid the ongoing war that has lasted for more than two years.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the UNHCR said Sudanese people need support to survive as they continue to be displaced from their homes by the conflict.
The war in Sudan broke out over two years ago during the country’s transition to civilian rule, sparked by a dispute over integrating the RSF into the army. It has resulted in devastating human and material losses and displaced more than 12 million people internally and across borders.
