RSF-encircled city in Sudan’s Kordofan targeted by drones: witness, military source

PORT SUDAN: The city of El-Obeid in Sudan’s Kordofan region, largely encircled by paramilitary forces, was targeted by a drone attack on Friday that hit multiple government-linked facilities, several witnesses told AFP.
The drone strikes, which began early in the morning and lasted two hours, hit a military base, a police headquarters, the regional parliament and the premises of a telecoms company, witnesses said.
A military source told AFP that the army’s air defenses had intercepted 20 aerial targets.
Since April 2023, Sudan’s army has been waging a war with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) that has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced millions more and created a grinding humanitarian crisis.
El-Obeid, located about 350 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Khartoum, remains under army control after it managed to loosen a lengthy RSF siege last February.
The paramilitary force, however, has redoubled its efforts to take the city after forcing the army out of neighboring Darfur last year, cutting off most access routes in and out.
El-Obeid lies along a strategic route linking Darfur and Khartoum.
More than 88,000 have fled the Kordofan region since October.