Sudanese army regains hospital in El Fasher, clashes continue

September 13, 2024 (EL FASHER)—The Sudanese army and allied forces repelled a fresh attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on Friday, reclaiming a hospital in the southern part of the city. Fighting raged on in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur.

The clashes erupted anew after a major RSF offensive on Thursday, described as the fiercest yet on the northern, northeastern, and southern parts of the city. The RSF had recently bolstered its presence in the area with significant reinforcements.

Fierce battles unfolded between the attacking force and the army, backed by allied movements, in the Al-Salam, Al-Inqaz, and Al-Wahda neighborhoods, with both sides employing a variety of weapons.

Local sources reported continued clashes on Friday morning, involving light weapons, in the south and east of El Fasher. The army successfully retook control of the southern hospital after besieging and storming the building.

The city also witnessed an exchange of artillery and aerial bombardment between the two sides. El Fasher has been embroiled in conflict for months, resulting in hundreds of casualties and displacing tens of thousands.

Sources indicated that the RSF shelled southern and eastern areas of the city on Friday morning, while the army’s air force targeted RSF positions in the southeast, causing plumes of smoke to rise.

The fighting in El Fasher underscores the ongoing volatility in Sudan, where the army and the RSF have been locked in a power struggle since April. The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis, with widespread displacement and shortages of essential supplies.