Khartoum experienced heavy airstrikes and shelling on Thursday as the Sudanese army launched an offensive against paramilitary positions in the capital.
Eyewitnesses and military sources reported that the clashes began at dawn, marking the army’s first major attack in months to reclaim control over areas dominated by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a rival paramilitary group.
A military source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the army was engaged in fierce fighting with the RSF within Khartoum.
The army has reportedly crossed three crucial bridges over the Nile River, which had previously divided the sections of the capital controlled by the two forces.
Since the outbreak of war in April 2023 between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, the RSF has pushed the army nearly out of Khartoum.
Following an earlier offensive in February, the army had regained territory in Omdurman, Khartoum’s twin city.
Residents reported intense artillery bombardments in Omdurman, with bombs hitting residential areas as military aircraft flew overhead.
The ongoing conflict has led to tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 10 million people, creating a severe humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations.