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Sudan’s El Fasher Sees Fiercest Fighting Since Start of City Siege

Thick smoke rises over El Fasher in Darfur following earlier clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) (DPA).
Thick smoke rises over El Fasher in Darfur following earlier clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) (DPA).
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Sudan’s El Fasher Sees Fiercest Fighting Since Start of City Siege

Thick smoke rises over El Fasher in Darfur following earlier clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) (DPA).
Thick smoke rises over El Fasher in Darfur following earlier clashes between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) (DPA).

Fighting in El Fasher, the capital of Sudan’s Darfur region, has turned into fierce street battles after the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) entered the city following months of siege.
Conflicting reports emerged about the situation, but videos showed the RSF advancing into residential areas near the army’s headquarters.
Witnesses told Asharq Al-Awsat that hundreds of RSF fighters attacked the city from three directions early on Saturday, describing the clashes as the most violent since the start of the siege.
They said bodies of fighters from both sides were scattered on the streets.
The RSF has been pushing to capture El Fasher, the army’s last stronghold in Darfur, after taking control of the region’s other four states.
The army, with support from armed groups and civilians, claimed to have repelled the attack, killing hundreds of RSF fighters and capturing military equipment.
Darfur Governor Minni Arcua Minnawi, who is fighting alongside the army, said El Fasher is defending itself against the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as “Hemedti.”
Heavy clashes were reported in El Fasher’s northern, eastern, and southern areas, according to the city’s Resistance Committees on Facebook. The group later claimed the attackers had been pushed out and the fighting had ended.
Pro-RSF social media accounts shared videos showing their fighters advancing and capturing army positions, with footage of destroyed military vehicles.
The army’s 6th Infantry Division said its forces were making steady progress and had inflicted significant losses on the RSF, capturing many of their combat vehicles.
The United Nations has warned that hundreds of thousands of lives in El Fasher are at risk due to the ongoing fighting.
Sudan has been in conflict since April 2023, when fighting broke out between the army, led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and the RSF, commanded by Hemedti.

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Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Have Received Explicit Israeli Threats

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
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Iraqi Foreign Minister: We Have Received Explicit Israeli Threats

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)
Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid addresses the Peace Forum in Duhok (Rudaw Network)

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated on Friday that Iraq has received explicit threats from Israel, adding that the country’s armed forces have been instructed by the prime minister to prevent any attacks originating from Iraqi territory.

According to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed the armed forces to take action against anyone launching attacks from the country. The foreign minister emphasized that Iraq does not seek war and aims to avoid its dangers, noting that the region is “on fire” and facing “clear threats from Israel.”

The agency also reported that the Iraqi government has requested an emergency meeting of the Arab League Council to address Israeli threats. Iraq’s permanent representative to the Arab League submitted a request for a session at the level of permanent representatives of member states to confront what was described as menaces from the “Zionist entity.”

Earlier, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar announced that he had sent a message to the president of the UN Security Council urging immediate action against activities of Iran-backed militias in Iraq. Sa’ar asserted that the Iraqi government bears responsibility for any actions occurring within or emanating from its territory.

Meanwhile, Iraqi officials have expressed pessimism about the outcome of the ongoing war in the Middle East. Nevertheless, they emphasized Baghdad’s commitment to supporting efforts to achieve lasting peace and security.

Speaking at the American University Forum in Duhok on Friday, Iraqi Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani highlighted that the challenges facing Iraq have fundamentally changed since October 7.

He described the current situation in the Middle East as a “second Nakba”, stressing that the challenges stem from the failure of the international system, which he described as “ambiguous.”

Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid stated that Iraq would play its role in promoting peace in the Middle East and expressed his full support for efforts aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution to the Kurdish issue in Türkiye.

Speaking at the Duhok Forum, Rashid said that Iraq and the region are facing circumstances that require all parties to closely monitor the situation and find appropriate solutions to ongoing problems, emphasizing the need for lasting peace and security.

Masoud Barzani, leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, called for Iraq to remain neutral in the conflict, saying: “The crises in the region and the scenes of war in Lebanon and Gaza are tragic. We hope this suffering will come to an end.”

“We are all awaiting changes following the US presidential election. All indications suggest that a Trump administration will adopt a different approach compared to President Biden’s policies,” he added.

The Iraqi government has stated that under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with the United States, Washington is responsible for “deterring and responding to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.”

According to media reports, the US has informed Baghdad that Israeli military strikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless Baghdad prevents Iran-backed factions from launching attacks against Israel.