Sudan’s army, allies say they repelled new RSF attack on El Fasher
June 15, 2025 (EL FASHER) – Sudan’s army and allied armed groups said they repelled a renewed ground assault on Sunday by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on El Fasher, the last army stronghold in the Darfur region.
Fierce battles broke out on the eastern and northeastern fronts of the North Darfur state capital following a fierce offensive by the RSF, local and military sources told the Sudan Tribune.
In a daily report, army spokesperson First Sergeant Assia Al-Khalifa Ghibla of the 6th Infantry Division said forces had “countered a desperate attack launched by the rebel militia on the city in the early hours of this morning.”
The army claimed to have “destroyed most of the attacking force,” inflicting heavy losses that included the destruction of two “Sarsar” – armoured troop carriers – and two armoured combat vehicles, leaving “dozens dead and a large number of wounded.”
Separately, Ahmed Hussein Mustafa, a spokesperson for the joint force of allied movements fighting alongside the army, also said in a statement that they had inflicted heavy losses on the attackers.
“Our troops are fighting with high morale and unwavering steadfastness, confirming that El Fasher will remain invincible to the militia owned by the Daglo family,” Ghibla’s report concluded.
The RSF has been waging a campaign of repeated attacks to try and capture El Fasher, which would consolidate its control over the vast Darfur region.
The ground attack on Sunday was preceded by a heavy barrage of artillery shells and intense drone activity, targeting the 6th Infantry Division headquarters, the sprawling Abu Shouk camp for displaced persons, and a former UN mission base now used by the joint force.
The paramilitary force has tightened its crippling siege on the historic city since the start of the year, leading to a severe humanitarian crisis. Residents and aid groups report daily deaths from starvation due to critical shortages of food and medicine, with children, pregnant women, and the elderly most affected.