Sudan's army battles RSF advances in el-Fasher, Bara as civil war rages

"The RSF attacked Bara, a city 350km (215 miles) southwest of Khartoum, the capital, from multiple directions on Saturday morning, drawing artillery fire from the Sudanese armed forces (SAF), a military source told Al Jazeera. The city is one of the largest urban areas under army control near the western front line with the RSF, but it is encircled by the paramilitary's fighters. Communications networks were cut off after the assault on North Kordofan's second largest city."

"Clashes also continued in el-Fasher in the early hours with columns of smoke rising over the provincial capital as shelling and gunfire continued into the morning. The paramilitary force published videos on Friday claiming its fighters had seized the North Darfur governor's residence in el-Fasher and were now positioned near the SAF's 6th Infantry Division headquarters, the army's local command centre, according to the Sudan Tribune. RSF fighters in the footage said they would advance on the city centre."

Fighting has intensified across Sudan as the Rapid Support Forces launched attacks on el-Fasher in North Darfur and the North Kordofan city of Bara. Bara, 350km southwest of Khartoum, was attacked from multiple directions, drew artillery fire from the Sudanese armed forces and became encircled by paramilitary fighters. Communications networks were cut off after the assault on North Kordofan's second largest city. Clashes and shelling continued in el-Fasher with columns of smoke over the provincial capital and residents trapped under fire. The RSF published videos claiming seizure of the North Darfur governor's residence and positions near the SAF's 6th Infantry Division headquarters. Medical workers warned that the humanitarian situation has reached catastrophic levels.

Read at www.aljazeera.com