Heavy Fighting in Khartoum as Power Struggle Rages

In this photo provided by Maheen S, smoke fills the sky in Khartoum, Sudan, near Doha International Hospital on Friday, April 21, 2023. (Maheen S via AP)
In this photo provided by Maheen S, smoke fills the sky in Khartoum, Sudan, near Doha International Hospital on Friday, April 21, 2023. (Maheen S via AP)
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Heavy Fighting in Khartoum as Power Struggle Rages

In this photo provided by Maheen S, smoke fills the sky in Khartoum, Sudan, near Doha International Hospital on Friday, April 21, 2023. (Maheen S via AP)
In this photo provided by Maheen S, smoke fills the sky in Khartoum, Sudan, near Doha International Hospital on Friday, April 21, 2023. (Maheen S via AP)

Fierce fighting could be heard in central Khartoum on Thursday as the army tried to push back the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from areas around the presidential palace and army headquarters, with a lasting ceasefire appearing elusive.

Each side appears to be battling for control of territory in the capital ahead of any possible negotiation, though the leaders of both factions have shown little public willingness to hold talks after more than two weeks of fighting, Reuters said.

Heavy bombardments also rang out in the adjoining cities of Omdurman and Bahri.

The United Nations, meanwhile, pressed Sudan's warring factions on Wednesday to guarantee safe passage of humanitarian aid after six trucks were looted and air strikes in the capital undermined a supposed truce.

UN aid chief Martin Griffiths said he hoped to have face-to-face meetings with Sudan's warring parties within two to three days to secure guarantees from them for aid convoys to deliver relief supplies.

HUMANITARIAN DISASTER

The United Nations has warned that fighting between the army and RSF, which erupted on April 15, risks causing a humanitarian catastrophe that could spill into other countries. Sudan said on Tuesday that 550 people had died and 4,926 people wounded so far in the conflict.

About 100,000 people have fled Sudan with little food or water to neighboring countries, the UN says.

The army and RSF joined forces in a coup two years ago and had shared power as part of an internationally backed transition towards free elections and civilian government before falling out over the transition.

The RSF accused the army of breaching a ceasefire and attacking forces since dawn. It accused the army of attacking its residential neighborhoods with artillery and aircraft in a "cowardly manner".

The envoy of Sudan's military leader said on Wednesday that the army "accepted the Saudi-American initiative for truce talks, not mediation to end the fighting" with the RSF.

The envoy, Dafallah Alhaj, said at a press conference in Cairo: "Our delegation will not meet with RSF face to face, communication will be through mediators."



Israeli Strike Kills 26 People in Gaza City House

Water is distributed at the Islamic University in Gaza City, which now serves as a shelter for displaced Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Water is distributed at the Islamic University in Gaza City, which now serves as a shelter for displaced Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
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Israeli Strike Kills 26 People in Gaza City House

Water is distributed at the Islamic University in Gaza City, which now serves as a shelter for displaced Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)
Water is distributed at the Islamic University in Gaza City, which now serves as a shelter for displaced Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Sunday, April 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

An Israeli airstrike killed at least 26 Palestinians, including children, in a house in Shejaia in Gaza City, local health authorities said on Wednesday.
Medics said dozens of others were wounded in the attack that hit a multi-floor residential building in the eastern suburb of Gaza City. They said many were still believed to be missing and trapped under the ruins of the building. The strike damaged several other houses nearby, medics said.
There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army, Reuters reported.
Last week, the military ordered Shejaia residents to evacuate, saying forces intended to operate against militants in the area.
Israel last month resumed its bombardment of Gaza after a two-month truce and sent troops back into the enclave. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Israeli military strikes have killed at least 1,400 people since March 18, when Israel renewed the attacks.
The armed wings of Hamas and the Islamic Jihad shortly afterwards resumed firing rockets into Israeli territory.
Israel and Hamas have traded blame over the stalemate in the ceasefire talks. Arab mediators, Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have stepped up efforts to restore calm but have so far failed to bridge the gap between the warring parties.