Army drone strikes RSF in El Fasher as battle for city intensifies
August 30, 2025 (EL FASHER) – A Sudanese army drone struck Rapid Support Forces (RSF) positions in El Fasher on Saturday for the first time in months, a move aimed at halting the paramilitary group’s rapid advance toward the city centre as ground clashes intensified.
The RSF has been waging a two-week offensive on the North Darfur capital, capturing positions near the army’s main base. Meanwhile, living conditions for residents are deteriorating, with severe shortages of food and medicine. Most markets are no longer functioning after being deliberately shelled by the RSF.
Local sources told Sudan Tribune that “an army drone carried out airstrikes on RSF concentrations in the Awlad al-Reef neighbourhood and the livestock market, in addition to other sites in the north and east of the city.”
This marks the first intensive aerial bombardment by the army in El Fasher since April, when military flights over North Darfur largely ceased after a fighter jet was downed on the city’s outskirts. Security sources estimate that the RSF has installed air defence systems in the Jaqoujqo area, east of El Fasher, and at the New Al-Sail camp, a former army training centre.
Meanwhile, clashes between the army, its allied armed movements, and the RSF continued on the city’s southern front, with both sides using all types of weapons. The fighting was reportedly concentrated around military housing near the city centre.
Sources added that RSF drones also conducted strikes on army positions near the 6th Infantry Division headquarters and at Dar al-Arqam, a gathering point for the allied armed movements.
There are growing fears that the RSF could carry out ethnically motivated field executions if its forces reach shelters for displaced people inside El Fasher.
On Saturday, RSF heavy artillery shelled the western part of the Abu Shouk camp for displaced people and the nearby Nyivasha market, where army forces had withdrawn. The attack killed several displaced people and left others seriously injured, according to doctors at the Southern Hospital and the army’s medical corps.
The RSF has already displaced most residents from the northern half of the Abu Shouk camp, committing widespread violations including killings and looting. Volunteers with the local emergency response room report that the RSF has also destroyed approximately 98% of the area’s clean water sources.