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Wad Madani: Who Seizes it Rules Sudan

File photo: A force from the Rapid Support Forces. (AP) 
File photo: A force from the Rapid Support Forces. (AP) 
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Wad Madani: Who Seizes it Rules Sudan

File photo: A force from the Rapid Support Forces. (AP) 
File photo: A force from the Rapid Support Forces. (AP) 

Whoever controls the city of Wad Madani consequently rules the whole of Sudan.
The Rapid Support Forces’ targeting of the city is a qualitative development in the fighting with the Sudanese army given the city’s significance and its strategic location.
Wad Madani is Sudan’s second city in terms of social, political, and economic weight. It is the capital of the El Gezira state.

The Gezira state is located in southern Khartoum and is bordered to the north and west by the White Nile State, to the south by Sennar, and the east by Al Qadarif. It is considered the geographical center of Sudan.
Gezira is the first economic state in the country given its abundance of human, agricultural, animal, and natural resources. It is also home to the Gezira Scheme which is one of the largest irrigation projects in the world and was established in 1925 during British colonialism.
The cotton grown in Gezira used to be the most important export of Sudan and the main supplier of hard currency to the country, but the project was severely shocked upon the coup of 1989 due to the failed policies adopted by the coup regime. Things got worse when the government started depending on oil supplies after the nineties of the past century.
In addition to its economic significance, Wad Madani hosted following the war between the army and the RSF hundreds of thousands of refugees and received the greatest number of people fleeing from the fighting in Khartoum.
This has made it a vital city in the Sudanese developments during the war, and maybe after it.
In the case of the RSF seizure of the city, they would have seized the center of Sudan. The Hantoub Bridge is the only bridge that connects the country’s center, south, and west to the east.
Wad Madani is considered a cultural and artistic center and it has the University of Gezira, the third university in the country in terms of academic and historical rating. It also has Gezira Literature and Arts Association which is one of the most important cultural associations in the history of the country.

Wad Madani has also presented a huge number of politicians, artists, and writers.

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Arab World

Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
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Israeli Army Reaches Outskirts of Litani River in Southern Lebanon

An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)
An Israeli tank loaded onto a truck being transported to the border with southern Lebanon in the Upper Galilee (EPA)

Israeli forces have launched their largest ground incursion into southern Lebanon since the conflict began, reaching the outskirts of the Litani River near Deirmimas.

They entered the town’s edges in an effort to separate Nabatieh from Marjayoun and prepare for an attack on the town of Taybeh from the west and north.

This move also aimed to neutralize Taybeh hill, which overlooks the Khiam plain, where Israel plans to extend its operations and capture the city of Khiam.

Lebanese media reported that Israel set up a checkpoint at the Deirmimas junction, cutting off Marjayoun from Nabatieh.

They also blocked the western entrance to Deirmimas near a fuel station using earth mounds, with Israeli military vehicles stationed there. Reports also said Israeli forces prevented UNIFIL and the Lebanese army from passing toward Marjayoun.

Lebanese sources following the battle in the south reported that Israeli forces advanced five kilometers west from the town of Kfar Kila, moving through olive groves. This advance took advantage of the absence of Hezbollah fighters in Christian areas like Qlayaa, Bir al-Muluk, and Deirmimas.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that this allowed Israeli forces to reach the outskirts of the Litani River for the first time since 2006, cutting off Nabatieh from Marjayoun. Israeli artillery had previously targeted this route several times, and drones had carried out strikes there.

Israel supported its ground advance with heavy artillery fire. Lebanese security sources said Israeli artillery targeted hills overlooking Deirmimas throughout Thursday night into Friday, hitting locations like Beaufort Castle, Arnoun, Yihmour, Wadi Zawtar, and Deir Siryan.

This fire typically provides cover for infantry advances. The sources also confirmed that Israeli ground movements were backed by airstrikes and drones for added security.

They speculated the advance followed a route from Kfar Kila through Tall al-Nahas and Bir al-Muluk toward Deirmimas, which is almost empty of residents and has no Hezbollah presence.

Hezbollah fired rockets at Israeli forces in the area, with three statements confirming the targeting of Israeli positions and vehicles near Deirmimas.

Media reports mentioned multiple rocket strikes on Israeli targets in Khiam and near Tall al-Nahas, as well as a guided missile attack on Israeli movements near oil groves close to the Marqos station at Deirmimas’ edge.

A photo shared by Lebanese media showed an Israeli tank behind an exposed hill east of Qlayaa, protected from the west and north. To the south, Israeli forces entered the town of Deirmimas, which overlooks the position.

Military expert Mustafa Asaad said the image, showing a bulldozer behind a tank at the Qlayaa-Marjayoun-Deirmimas junction, suggests that infantry units secured the area—either on foot or in fast vehicles—before entering Deirmimas.

The town’s mayor confirmed to local media that Israeli forces made a “small incursion” into Deirmimas, advancing through olive groves from Kfar Kila.

Hezbollah has stated it does not have military positions in Christian or Druze areas in southern Lebanon, as these communities oppose its presence. Sources close to Hezbollah say this is due to political reasons and security concerns.