Clashes Escalate in Sudan’s North Darfur

Rapid Support Forces members. (AP)
Rapid Support Forces members. (AP)
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Clashes Escalate in Sudan’s North Darfur

Rapid Support Forces members. (AP)
Rapid Support Forces members. (AP)

Clashes renewed on Monday between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in several locations in North Darfur, while each side claimed to have inflicted the other with heavy losses in lives and military equipment.

Eyewitnesses said fierce ground clashes took place early in the morning in the vicinity of El Fasher, and around the Zarq and Um Baar areas, which are controlled by the RSF.

Meanwhile, residents fear counter-attacks following threats launched by several RSF leaders, who vowed to strongly respond to the killing of Ali Yagoub Gibril, one of their senior commanders during a battle in the besieged north Darfur city of El Fasher last Friday.

Social media accounts affiliated with the RSF posted videos showing violent clashes that took place Monday in the Um Baar area.

The video also showed destroyed military and armored vehicles of the army and the armed movements backing it.

Since the outbreak of fighting in Sudan, the RSF has pushed large numbers of its forces to capture the town of El Fasher. The city is the army's last stronghold in the western Darfur region.

On Sunday, RSF commander Mohammed Hamdan Daglo, also known as Hemedti, blamed the escalation in El Fasher on armed factions “that have abandoned neutrality and chosen to side with their slaughterer.”

A resident of El Fasher said the Eid Al-Adha celebrations were completely absent, and that many residents did not leave their homes to perform religious rituals for fear of bombs targeting residential neighborhoods.



Lebanon Begins Clearing Beirut, Airport Road of Political Banners

Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 
Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 
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Lebanon Begins Clearing Beirut, Airport Road of Political Banners

Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 
Removal of a photo of former Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah (Beirut Municipality) 

Lebanese authorities have launched a sweeping campaign to remove political party flags, posters, and slogans from Beirut’s streets and the main road to Rafic Hariri International Airport, in a move aimed at restoring the capital’s image and promoting tourism.

The cleanup, which began early Wednesday, was ordered by Interior Minister Ahmad al-Hajjar and Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, with municipal crews and Internal Security Forces overseeing its execution. The initiative is part of a broader government plan to improve public spaces and reflect state authority, especially in areas highly visible to visitors.

“This is about presenting a unified, civil image of Lebanon,” al-Hajjar told Asharq Al-Awsat, emphasizing that the effort aligns with the government’s commitment to assert state sovereignty and support economic recovery.

“The President pledged to restore the state’s authority, and that includes enhancing the appearance and functionality of our cities,” he added.

Starting from central Beirut and stretching along the airport highway, the operation targets all political symbols — including those of powerful groups like Hezbollah and the Amal Movement — as well as commercial billboards installed on public property.

Abboud confirmed that all major parties were informed of the decision and responded cooperatively. “There’s consensus that the capital and airport road should reflect the Lebanese state — not individual factions,” he said, adding that the airport zone must be safe and firmly under state control.

The campaign is also part of preparations for the upcoming summer tourism season, with expectations of increased arrivals from Arab countries, expatriates, and international visitors. Authorities have prioritized street lighting and infrastructure upgrades as part of the broader revitalization.

“In just a few months, we’ve gone from pleading for diesel to keep the airport running, to relighting the entire route from the city center to the terminal,” said Abboud. “We want Beirut to look like a city of joy and openness.”

Party-related imagery placed on public property along Beirut’s roads has long caused tension, often dividing neighborhoods along political lines. Security officials say the removal effort has proceeded smoothly and without resistance, marking a rare show of unity in a politically fractured country.

“The state respects everyone’s right to political activity,” a security source said. “But that no longer includes turning public space into partisan territory.”