Sudan: Al-Nuhud falls as army airstrikes intensify

Fierce fighting erupted Saturday across West Kordofan as the bloody power struggle between Sudan’s warring factions reached new heights.

The Sudanese Armed Forces launched concentrated aerial bombardments against Rapid Support Forces (RSF) positions, whilst the paramilitary group claimed a significant territorial victory.

In a strategic blow to government forces, the RSF announced their capture of Al-Nuhud city following a brutal 48-hour assault featuring heavy artillery barrages and unmanned aerial strikes. Military analysts confirm that regular army units hastily withdrew towards Al-Khuwai, abandoning the critical 18th Brigade headquarters compound amidst the onslaught.

The RSF’s continued battlefield successes come amid persistent allegations of substantial Emirati support. United Nations experts have documented evidence suggesting the United Arab Emirates has provided sophisticated weaponry, including drone systems and armoured vehicles, alongside critical financial backing that has fundamentally altered the conflict’s trajectory. Despite official denials from Abu Dhabi, multiple diplomatic sources maintain that Emirati-supplied materiel continues flowing across Sudan’s porous borders, primarily through neighbouring Chad.

Al-Nuhud represents a prized conquest due to its exceptional strategic value, commanding key transportation corridors linking West Kordofan with North Darfur whilst sitting astride resource-rich territories coveted by both sides. The city’s fall potentially shifts regional power dynamics as the conflict approaches its second year, with over 14,000 civilians killed and millions displaced since hostilities erupted in April 2023.

Multiple independent sources verified that Sudanese military aircraft conducted retaliatory bombing runs against RSF concentrations within the newly-captured city, though battle damage assessments remain unclear. The operational situation throughout West Kordofan continues deteriorating, with conflicting casualty reports and contested territorial claims further complicating humanitarian relief efforts.

As displacement figures mount, international observers express growing alarm regarding civilian protection concerns and deteriorating humanitarian conditions across affected areas, with access to essential services severely compromised by ongoing hostilities and deliberate targeting of medical facilities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​