Sudanese Army Affirms Loyalty Amid Coup Allegations

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan during his visit to the Wadi Seidna Air Base in Omdurman (Archived - Army's Facebook page)
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan during his visit to the Wadi Seidna Air Base in Omdurman (Archived - Army's Facebook page)
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Sudanese Army Affirms Loyalty Amid Coup Allegations

Abdel Fattah al-Burhan during his visit to the Wadi Seidna Air Base in Omdurman (Archived - Army's Facebook page)
Abdel Fattah al-Burhan during his visit to the Wadi Seidna Air Base in Omdurman (Archived - Army's Facebook page)

The Sudanese Army declared unity in its leadership amid rumors of a foiled coup in the Wadi Seidna military zone in Omdurman.
Several officers were reportedly arrested by the military intelligence unit. Tensions have risen due to clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The army’s official Facebook page has not reported any unusual activity.
Lt. Gen. Yasser Abdel Rahman Al Atta, a member of the Sovereignty Council, stated that the army operates cohesively under one leadership. However, he did not directly address the coup allegations.
Al Atta reassured that Omdurman and Wadi Seidna are closely coordinated for victory. He emphasized unity behind the army commander, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan.
Reports suggest the detained officers clashed with RSF without proper military orders.
According to sources who spoke with “Al Sudani” newspaper, several officers, including a colonel and a major, have been put under tight detention.
These developments have sparked public interest, but the military is keeping a tight lid on the situation, refusing to disclose any further details.
Political analysts have linked the recent visit of Sudanese Army Deputy Commander, Gen. Ibrahim Jabir, to the Wadi Seidna military base in northern Omdurman with the alleged coup attempt revelation.
The Wadi Seidna base is crucial for the army in Khartoum, directing operations against the RSF.
With the army leadership neither confirming nor denying the alleged coup attempt, speculation has grown in the absence of clear information.
Since the overthrow of Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir in December 2019, the country has witnessed several coup attempts, though the current army leadership has acknowledged only two involving senior officers.
Social media accounts linked to members of the Muslim Brotherhood and military leaders have dismissed the idea of a military coup in the country. They argue that significant change within the military is unlikely given the current situation.
The army doesn't have full control over the country, with some key units now under the RSF.
Accusations of planning a coup are usually aimed at officers who have fallen out of favor, often to remove them from the armed forces. In the past, several senior officers faced such charges but were later reinstated when conflict erupted with the RSF.



Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
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Israel Pounds Central Beirut, Suburbs after Major Evacuation Warnings

A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin
A damaged building is pictured through the wreckage of a vehicle, in the aftermath of Israeli strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, amid the ongoing hostilities between Hezbollah and Israeli forces, Lebanon November 26, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Yassin

Israel mounted waves of pounding airstrikes in Beirut on Tuesday as its security cabinet discussed a ceasefire deal in Lebanon with its Hezbollah foes that could take effect as soon as Wednesday.

A senior Israeli official and Lebanese caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib appeared optimistic a deal could be reached, clearing the way for an end to a conflict that has killed thousands of people since it was ignited by the Gaza war last year.

Despite the possibility of an imminent diplomatic breakthrough, hostilities raged as Israel sharply ramped up its campaign of air strikes in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, with health authorities reporting at least 18 killed.

Israeli warplanes launched repeated strikes across Beirut throughout Tuesday, mostly in the southern suburbs that are a stronghold for Iran-backed Hezbollah.

A single cluster of strikes in Beirut that Israel's military said included attacks on 20 targets in just 120 seconds killed at least seven people and injured 37, Lebanon's health ministry said.

Israel also gave advance notice for the first time of strikes in the central Beirut area, a significant escalation of its campaign in the capital that sparked panic among residents with some fleeing north.

Strikes also targeted Tyre, in the south, and Baalbek, in the east.

Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the air force was conducting a "widespread attack" on Hezbollah targets across the city.

Hezbollah has kept up rocket fire into Israel and has previously said it would respond to attacks on central Beirut by firing rockets at Tel Aviv. Sirens sounded in northern Israel and the Israeli military said five projectiles were identified coming from Lebanon.

Hezbollah launched some 250 rockets on Sunday in one of its heaviest barrages yet. The northern Israeli city of Nahariya came under more rocket fire overnight.

‘Dangerous hours’

A Hezbollah parliament member in Lebanon, Hassan Fadlallah, said the country faced "dangerous, sensitive hours" during the wait for a possible ceasefire announcement.

With Israel's security cabinet meeting to discuss the deal, which a senior Israeli official had said was likely to be approved, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he would speak on Tuesday evening at 8 pm (1800 GMT). A government official said the cabinet meeting had started.

Israeli approval of the deal would pave the way for a ceasefire declaration by US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, four senior Lebanese sources told Reuters on Monday.

The ceasefire could come into effect on Wednesday morning, triggering a 60-day truce, a Western diplomat said.

However, there was no indication that a truce in Lebanon would hasten a ceasefire and hostage-release deal in devastated Gaza, where Israel is battling Palestinian group Hamas.

The agreement requires Israeli troops to withdraw from south Lebanon and Lebanon's army to deploy in the region, officials say. Hezbollah would end its armed presence along the border south of the Litani River.

Bou Habib said the Lebanese army would be ready to have at least 5,000 troops deployed in southern Lebanon as Israeli troops withdraw, and that the United States could play a role in rebuilding infrastructure destroyed by Israeli strikes.

Israel demands effective UN enforcement of an eventual ceasefire with Lebanon and will show "zero tolerance" toward any infraction, Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.