Bara, March 17 (Darfur24)
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said on Monday that they had regained control of the city of Bara in North Kordofan State and taken full control of Karnoi in North Darfur, as clashes spread to multiple regions, including Al-Tina and Dilling.
The developments mark a sharp escalation in ground fighting across four towns, following a period in which attacks had largely been limited to drone strikes.
In a statement, the RSF said it had recaptured Bara a week after withdrawing from the city, describing it as strategically and economically significant due to its location and its role as a gateway toward El Obeid, the state capital.
The group reported heavy losses among opposing forces during the battles in Bara, claiming more than 500 fatalities, including officers, in addition to the capture of about 45 combat vehicles, the destruction of others, and the seizure of weapons and military equipment. These claims could not be independently verified.
In South Kordofan, local sources reported that joint forces from the RSF and the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North launched an attack on the city of Dilling early Monday from multiple directions, including areas near the airport, eastern neighborhoods, and the army’s 54th Brigade headquarters.
Sources said Sudanese army forces in the city repelled the attack after clashes that lasted more than an hour, forcing the attacking forces to withdraw from the outskirts. Casualties were reported on both sides, though no civilian deaths were confirmed.
In North Darfur, the RSF said it had taken full control of Karnoi following what it described as swift battles with forces allied to the Islamic Movement, adding that the operation was part of efforts to restore security in the area.
Meanwhile, reports from the border city of Al-Tina indicated ongoing clashes after RSF forces reportedly entered the city. Other sources reported that the Sudanese army and joint forces countered the advance, but the situation on the ground remains unclear.
Videos circulating on social media by fighters affiliated with both sides appeared to show conflicting claims, with RSF forces displaying control over Bara and Karnoi, while opposing forces shared footage of destroyed RSF vehicles.
The latest developments underscore the fluid and rapidly changing nature of the conflict across Sudan, where control of key areas continues to shift and independent verification of battlefield claims remains limited.