Sudanese army, RSF clash around North Kordofan capital El Obeid

 August 14, 2026 (EL OBEID) – Heavy fighting erupted on Friday between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) southwest and west of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, as both sides contested strategic routes leading to the city.

The RSF launched a dawn ground assault on positions around Umm Arada and the Hashaba Hills, about 25 kilometres (15 miles) southwest of El Obeid.

Army artillery based around the city shelled advancing RSF units moving between al-Iyara to the west and Umm Arada to the southwest, sending loud explosions echoing across El Obeid until mid-morning.

Military sources told Sudan Tribune that government forces repelled two RSF assaults in the area, using artillery and drone strikes to destroy RSF vehicles and pushing fighters out of the zone.

The RSF said in a statement that its fighters had seized Umm Arada, describing the push as a major operational advance.

Both sides circulated video footage on social media claiming control of the disputed positions southwest of the city.

The clashes follow an army statement on Thursday saying troops had repulsed a large RSF assault involving roughly 250 vehicles at Jabrat al-Sheikh, 170 kilometres northeast of El Obeid along the strategic Exports Road.

The RSF has intensified its attacks in North Kordofan in a bid to recover ground lost late last month, when the army captured a string of towns and secured the vital highway linking the capital region to El Obeid.