Sudan's RSF rebels strike Port Sudan, army says
Sudan's military on Sunday said the eastern, coastal city of Port Sudan, the government's temporary seat of power since the war broke out in 2023, had been attacked by paramilitaries in a drone strike.
Army spokesperson Nabil Abdullah said in a statement that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) "targeted Osman Digna Air Base, a goods warehouse and some civilian facilities in the city of Port Sudan with suicide drones".
The spokesperson said there had been no casualties but that there had been limited damage.
Large explosions reported earlier
An AFP news agency correspondent reported that explosions in the morning shook his home, about 20km north of the key coastal city's airport.
On social media meanwhile, unverified footage of a large explosion followed by a large plume of smoke was widely shared.
READ | Sudan's war: Two years of devastation
The regular army controls the central, eastern and northern parts, while the RSF maintain a strong presence in the vast western region of Darfur and parts of the south.
In the initial stages of the war, the government moved from Khartoum to Port Sudan making it the de facto capital.
AFP
Until Sunday's attack, Port Sudan had been spared any violence in the two-year conflict, indicating that the RSF has managed to expand the scope and frequency of drone attacks on army-held areas since losing control of other areas, including most of the capital Khartoum.
How Sudan's civil war started
Sudan's civil war erupted two years ago amid the country's bumpy transition to democracy following the 2019 fall of Omar al-Bashir's ironclad rule.
The government troops and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) were allies that joined forces to oust the Islamist leader.
The Sudanese Armed Forces under General Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF, headed by General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, better known as Hemedti, initially joined a civilian-led transitional council following the fall of al-Bashir.
But in October 2021, they staged a coup together, derailing Sudan's democratic transition to a civilian government, and Hemedti became Burhan's deputy.
The two generals turned on each other after Hemedti refused to integrate his militia into the national army, triggering the civil war.
AFP
Both parties have been accused of committing war crimes and violating international humanitarian law, with tens of thousands dying in the war and more than 12 million displaced in what is believed to be the world's worst humanitarian crisis.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
Russian-backed paramilitary group assumes security role in Mali after Wagner pullout
The Africa Corps, a Kremlin-backed paramilitary force, announced it will maintain its presence in Mali following the recent departure of the Wagner mercenary group. The Africa Corps announced it will maintain its presence in Mali after Wagner's withdrawal. Wagner operated in Mali for over three years, reclaiming territories from Islamist militants. The Africa Corps aims to shift toward training local forces and supplying equipment. The Russian-backed Africa Corps has announced it will remain in Mali, following Wagner's decision to end its three-year mission fighting Islamist militants and begin withdrawing its forces. Wagner's involvement in Mali began after the country's military junta, which took power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, expelled French and United Nations troops who had been combating Islamist insurgents for nearly a decade. Wagner posted on social media that it had successfully reclaimed all of Mali's regional centers from Islamist forces, pushing them out and killing their commanders. Transition from Wagner to Africa Corps Following Wagner's exit, the Africa Corps was created with support from the Russian Defence Ministry after Wagner's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and commander Dmitry Utkin led a failed mutiny against Russian army leadership and fled to Belarus, confirmed it would continue Russia's paramilitary presence in Mali. On its Telegram channel, the Africa Corps stated that Wagner's departure 'does not signify a loss of Russian influence,' adding, 'Russia does not lose ground, but on the contrary, continues to support Bamako now at a more fundamental level,' referring to Mali's capital city. Experts, including Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at Germany's Konrad Adenauer Foundation, suggest this shift may signal a change in Russia's engagement from direct combat toward training local forces and providing equipment. Ongoing security challenges Despite the transition, Mali continues to face serious security threats. A series of recent attacks by Islamist insurgents reportedly killed more than 100 Malian soldiers and mercenaries. One bombing near Bamako targeted both Malian and Russian forces, illustrating the volatile situation. The insurgent group Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), active in the Sahel region, claimed responsibility for several recent attacks, further heightening the ongoing threat. The Malian defense ministry has not commented on the transition between Wagner and Africa Corps forces. Still, Russia's continuing paramilitary presence highlights the complex security landscape and Mali's reliance on foreign support to combat insurgency.
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Russian drones and missiles target Ukraine's Kharkiv, killing 3, officials say
A large Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted Ukraine's eastern city of Kharkiv on Saturday, killing at least three people and injuring 21, local officials said. The barrage — the latest in near daily wide scale attacks — included aerial glide bombs that have become part of a fierce Russian onslaught in the three-year war. The intensity of the Russian attacks on Ukraine over the past weeks has further dampened hopes that the warring sides could reach a peace deal anytime soon days — especially after Kyiv recently embarrassed the Kremlin with a surprising drone attack on military airfields deep inside Russia. 5 A large Russian drone-and-missile attack targeted Kharkiv, Ukraine on Saturday. AFP via Getty Images According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia struck with 215 missiles and drones overnight, and Ukrainian air defenses shot down and neutralized 87 drones and seven missiles. Several other areas in Ukraine were also hit, including the regions of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, and the city of Ternopil, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said in a post on X. 'To put an end to Russia's killing and destruction, more pressure on Moscow is required, as are more steps to strengthen Ukraine,' he said. Kharkiv's mayor Ihor Terekhov said the attack also damaged 18 apartment buildings and 13 private homes. Terekhov said it was 'the most powerful attack' on the city since the full-scale invasion in 2022. Kharkiv's regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said two districts in the city were struck with three missiles, five aerial glide bombs and 48 drones. Among the injured were two children, a month and a half old boy and a 14-year old girl, he added. 5 Kharkiv's mayor Ihor Terekhov said the attack damaged 18 apartment buildings. AFP via Getty Images 5 Over a dozen private homes were damaged in the attack, Terekhov added. AFP via Getty Images The attack on Kharkiv comes one day after Russia launched one of the fiercest missile and drone barrages on Ukraine, striking six Ukrainian territories and killing at least killing at least six people and injuring about 80. Among the dead were three emergency responders in Kyiv, one person in Lutsk and two people in Chernihiv. US President Donald Trump said this week that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, told him Moscow would respond to Ukraine's attack on Russian military airfields last Sunday. 5 The attack on Kharkiv came one day after Russia targeted six Ukrainian territories. AFP via Getty Images 5 The inside of a Kharkiv building is in ruins after the Russian strike on Saturday. REUTERS Trump also said that it might be better to let Ukraine and Russia 'fight for a while' before pulling them apart and pursuing peace. Trump's comments were a remarkable detour from his often-stated appeals to stop the war and signaled he may be giving up on recent peace efforts.
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
Trump admin officials blast LA Mayor Karen Bass' response to ICE raids — as cops clash with violent protesters
Several Trump administration officials fired back at Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass Friday after she pledged to oppose federal efforts to nab illegal immigrants — as cops in her city had to use flash bangs to disperse the violent mob of protesters who descended on the arrest sites. 'We will not stand for this,' Bass said in a statement released after federal immigration authorities arrested 44 people in raids across Los Angeles. 'I am deeply angered by what has taken place,' the Democrat mayor fumed, noting that her office 'is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations.' Advertisement 4 Bass slammed the Los Angeles immigration enforcement raids in a social media post. AFP via Getty Images White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller quickly dismissed Bass' declaration. 'You have no say in this at all,' Miller shot back on social media. Advertisement 'Federal law is supreme and federal law will be enforced,' he noted on X. Miller was one of several Trump administration officials that took issue with Bass' statements. 'They're Illegals. Not 'immigrants.' One just tried to burn Americans alive in Boulder,' White House adviser Sebastian Gorka wrote on X, referring to Colorado terror suspect Mohamed Soliman. The Egyptian national overstayed his tourist visa before allegedly firebombing a peaceful march for Israeli hostages still held by Hamas on Sunday in a heinous antisemitic attack. Advertisement 'If you're aiding and abetting them you're a criminal too,' Gorka said in response to the LA mayor's comments. 'Are you ready to be treated as a criminal? 'Because we are ready to treat you as one if you commit a crime,' he warned. 4 Miller noted that Bass has 'no say' in federal immigration enforcement. Chris Kleponis – CNP / MEGA 4 Miller was one of several Trump administration officials who reacted strongly to Bass' statement on the ICE raids. Stephen Miller, /X Advertisement Justice Department official Harmeet K. Dhillon was stunned by Bass' understanding of the law. 'It's amazing the number of elected officials who don't grasp the basics of federalism, or federal sovereignty over immigration issues, or the First Amendment,' Dhillon tweeted. The Los Angeles immigration raids sparked protests at the arrest sites, and at least one person was taken into custody for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement. 'Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle,' US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement. 'He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday.' 'Let me be clear: I don't care who you are — if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted.' Huerta is president of the California branch of the influential Service Employees International Union. 4 The raids sparked protests in Los Angeles. AP Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin decried the city's response to protesters' clashes with federal agents – which escalated hours after the raids. Advertisement 'Assaulting ICE enforcement officers, slashing tires, defacing buildings. 800 protestors have surrounded and breached the first layer of a federal law enforcement building in LA,' McLaughlin wrote on X. '@LAPD has not responded.' 'This violence against @ICEgov must stop.' Richard Grenell, President Trump's envoy for special missions, blamed Bass for the unrest. 'Karen Bass whipped all of this up. She attacked the rule of law. She undermined democracy,' Grenell wrote on X, sharing images of protesters attempting to block federal law enforcement vehicles. Advertisement 'The @MayorOfLA is creating chaos in LA,' he fumed. With Post wires
