Intense fighting broke out on Tuesday between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state in southern Sudan.
A military source reportedly said that the army inflicted heavy losses on RSF forces, destroying their equipment and forcing them to retreat from their positions.
Eyewitnesses said fighting erupted in the western parts of El-Obeid in the early hours of the morning, with both sides exchanging heavy weapons fire. However, calm was later restored in the city.
The RSF has not yet responded to the army’s claims.
El-Obeid has recently suffered intense artillery shelling by RSF fighters, resulting in civilian casualties and destruction.
The latest fighting comes just days after the Sudanese army declared victory in Khartoum, claiming to have cleared the last RSF strongholds in the capital. The army announced on Thursday that it had regained control of key locations, including Khartoum’s airport, security headquarters, and several districts in the east and south—marking its most significant territorial gains since the conflict began in April 2023.
In recent weeks, RSF-held areas have rapidly diminished, with the army reclaiming ground across multiple states, including Khartoum, Al-Jazira, White Nile, North Kordofan, Sennar, and Blue Nile.
The war between the Sudanese army and the RSF, which erupted in April 2023, has killed more than 20,000 people and displaced 14 million, according to the UN and local officials. However, research from US universities estimates the death toll to be around 130,000.
The international community and the UN have repeatedly called for an end to the conflict, warning of an impending humanitarian disaster as millions of Sudanese face severe food shortages and famine. The violence has now spread to 13 of Sudan’s 18 states.
