SAF confirms loss of Bara as fighting escalates across Sudan
Key Takeaways
- RSF has seized Bara in North Kordofan from SAF control
- SAF says troops withdrew from Bara after what it called a heroic battle
- Withdrawal ordered by SAF commanders based on field assessments
Bara Change of Hands
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) confirmed that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of Bara in North Kordofan, saying their troops withdrew from the city after what they described as a 'heroic battle'.
“The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have confirmed that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of Bara in North Kordofan, saying their troops withdrew from the city after what they described as a “heroic battle””
SAF spokesperson Col Nabeel Abdallah said commanders ordered the withdrawal based on field assessments, adding that RSF forces suffered heavy losses during the fighting.
The RSF announced the recapture of the strategic city on Monday, just ten days after the SAF had regained control, marking the third time Bara has changed hands since the war began in April 2023.
North Darfur Clashes, Drone
In a separate development, the SAF said its air defences shot down a hostile drone over El Obeid in North Kordofan state on Tuesday morning.
The SAF rejected RSF claims of a major advance in North Darfur, saying its forces and allied units repelled an attack on El Tina and pursued the retreating fighters.
The army said it destroyed 35 RSF combat vehicles and seized a further 49, reporting dozens of casualties among the attacking force.
The RSF, however, had earlier claimed control of the nearby Karnoi area, with fighters circulating videos said to have been filmed inside El Tina, a town on the border with Chad and Sudan’s North Darfur.
Mutwakil Ali, deputy spokesperson for the Joint Force, rejected that version of events.
He said joint troops repelled the RSF attack on El Tina, after fierce clashes, and added that forces would carry out combing operations in the Karnoi area.
Both sides released videos purporting to support their claims, which Radio Dabanga could not independently verify.
South Kordofan Fighting
In South Kordofan, the SAF said it also repelled an RSF assault on Delling, destroying five combat vehicles and capturing four others, along with motorcycles and communications equipment.
“The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) have confirmed that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have taken control of Bara in North Kordofan, saying their troops withdrew from the city after what they described as a “heroic battle””
Images shared on social media appeared to show casualties in Delling, although Radio Dabanga could not independently verify them.
Conflicting Claims and Context
The report highlights competing claims from the SAF and RSF over battlefield control in North Darfur and Karnoi, with each side releasing videos to support its narrative and Radio Dabanga unable to independently verify them.
It notes that fighting across North Kordofan, North Darfur, and South Kordofan is ongoing, illustrating the scale and volatility of a war that began in April 2023.
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