Renewed Fierce Battles Erupt in Khartoum, Ousted Bashir Surrounded in Hospital

Omar al-Bashir during his trial in September 2020 (Reuters)
Omar al-Bashir during his trial in September 2020 (Reuters)
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Renewed Fierce Battles Erupt in Khartoum, Ousted Bashir Surrounded in Hospital

Omar al-Bashir during his trial in September 2020 (Reuters)
Omar al-Bashir during his trial in September 2020 (Reuters)

Intense battles have erupted anew between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan’s city of Omdurman, transforming it into a zone of open military operations.

The clashes, which took place on Tuesday, resulted in casualties and injuries among civilians, as well as significant partial or total destruction of numerous homes.

Meanwhile, the RSF announced the downing of a Sudanese army MiG fighter jet in the city of Bahri, capturing its pilot. This incident marks the sixth downed aircraft since the outbreak of the conflict in the country in mid-April.

Witnesses stated that Sudanese Air Force fighter jets began intensively patrolling the skies of Omdurman since dawn, amidst a growing frequency of explosions.

They also reported that the RSF launched numerous attacks on the Central Reserve Police headquarters in Omdurman from three directions.

According to witnesses, the RSF employed both light and heavy weaponry, as well as artillery shelling, in an attempt to gain control over the headquarters.

However, the army successfully repelled the attacks, forcing the RSF to retreat.

Moreover, local sources have reported that several neighborhoods in the “Ambada” area of Omdurman are being subjected to aerial and artillery bombardment, as well as clashes between the army and the RSF, for the third consecutive day.

This has resulted in injuries among residents and the destruction of several homes.

Sources speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat also confirmed that the RSF have besieged the ousted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and three senior leaders of his regime.

The leaders, Bakri Hassan Saleh, Yousuf Abdel-Fatah (also known as “Rambo”), and Ahmed El-Tayeb El-Kinjar, are currently in the military-run Aliaa Hospital in Omdurman, under the control of the army.

The Sudanese army had announced their apprehension following the raid on the Central Kober Prison in Khartoum Bahri.

This came two weeks after the outbreak of the conflict in the country and the escape of many implicated leaders of the ousted regime, who were accused of orchestrating the June 30, 1989, coup and participating in the killing of protesters.



Netanyahu Offers Hamas Leaders Gaza Exit but Demands Group Disarm

A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
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Netanyahu Offers Hamas Leaders Gaza Exit but Demands Group Disarm

A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
A general view shows tents housing displaced Palestinians during Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan, in Gaza City on March 30, 2025. (Photo by Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday offered to let Hamas leaders leave Gaza but demanded the group abandon its arms, as his country kept up its bombardment of the Palestinian territory.

Gaza's civil defense agency said an Israeli air strike on a house and tent sheltering displaced Palestinians killed at least eight people, including five children.

The strike in Khan Yunis came in the morning on the first day of Eid al-Fitr, the festival marking the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Israel resumed intense bombing of the Palestinian territory on March 18 and then launched a new ground offensive, ending a nearly two-month ceasefire in the war with Hamas.

Netanyahu rejected criticism that his government was not engaging in negotiations aimed at releasing hostages held in Gaza, insisting the renewed military pressure on Hamas was proving effective.

"We are negotiating under fire... We can see cracks beginning to appear" in Hamas's positions, the Israeli leader told a cabinet meeting.

In the "final stage", Netanyahu said that "Hamas will lay down its weapons. Its leaders will be allowed to leave".

"The military pressure is working," Reuters quoted him as saying.

"The combination of military pressure and diplomatic pressure is the only thing that has brought the hostages back."

Hamas has expressed a willingness to relinquish Gaza's administration, but has warned its weapons are a "red line".

Egypt, Qatar and the United States are attempting to again broker a ceasefire and secure the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

A senior Hamas official stated on Saturday that the group had approved a new ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators and urged Israel to support it.

Netanyahu's office confirmed receipt of the proposal and stated that Israel had submitted a counterproposal in response.

However, the details of the latest mediation efforts remain undisclosed.