Sudanese army launches airstrikes in El Fasher as RSF deadline expires

January 22, 2025 (EL FASHER) – The Sudanese army carried out a series of airstrikes on Wednesday targeting Rapid Support Forces (RSF) positions in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state.

The airstrikes coincided with the end of a 48-hour ultimatum given by the RSF to the army, armed movements, and all other armed groups to surrender their weapons and withdraw from the North Darfur capital, with a promise of good treatment.

Eyewitnesses told Sudan Tribune that “a fighter jet belonging to the army hovered for a long time in the sky of El Fasher before dropping a large number of explosive barrels towards the RSF deployment sites in the eastern and southeastern parts of the city.”

Meanwhile, the RSF continued to launch long-range artillery shells towards the positions of the Sudanese army and armed movements in the western, northern, and southern parts of the city. The shelling destroyed a mosque in the Al-Thawra neighbourhood and damaged dozens of houses in the first-class district, as well as locations near the airport and the University of El Fasher.

Military sources told Sudan Tribune that the Sudanese army had successfully conducted airdrops to the Joint Force in the tri-border area between Sudan, Chad, and Libya.

For over three days, fierce clashes have been ongoing between the RSF and the Joint Force, aiming to open and close supply routes for both sides. The outcome of these clashes will pave the way to El Fasher.

Since last May, El Fasher has witnessed violent battles between the Sudanese army and its allied armed movements, resulting in the deaths of a large number of civilians and the displacement of more than 500,000 people.

The RSF is seeking to control the historic capital of the Darfur region as the last stronghold of the central authority in the region. The RSF already controls the states of East, South, West, and Central Darfur.