Dilling, January 26 (Darfur24)
The Sudanese Armed Forces announced on Monday that they had lifted the siege on the city of Dilling in South Kordofan State following fierce battles in the city’s eastern part.
In a statement obtained by Darfur24, the army said it had reopened the Dilling road “by force and decisively” after what it described as a successful military operation. It added that heavy losses in personnel and equipment were inflicted on the Rapid Support Forces.
According to the statement, the siege was broken from the direction of the Habila area, which the army said it took control of earlier on Monday before advancing into Dilling.
Videos circulated by army soldiers and allied forces showed their entry into Dilling via the road linking the village of Takma to the city’s southern entrance, amid celebrations by residents.
The lifting of the siege is expected to allow the resumption of commercial supply routes, the arrival of humanitarian assistance, and the restoration of civilian movement between Dilling and other cities and states, after a prolonged period of isolation that severely affected living and humanitarian conditions in the city.