Sudan: The army announces it has repelled an attack by the FSR in West Darfur.

According to the army, allied joint forces repelled the RSF in the Bir Saliba and Hajar Marfa’in areas. These clashes are part of a series of battles that have been ongoing for several weeks around El-Geneina and along the northern line.

The paramilitaries reportedly suffered significant losses during their offensive. Mehdi Jabal Moon, recently promoted to division general and tasked with leading RSF operations in this region, was killed along with several of his men, according to forces engaged alongside the army.

The governor of Darfur, Minni Arko Minnawi, whose troops are fighting alongside the regular army, presented this death as yet another loss for the Rapid Support Forces. Military authorities also reported the seizure of large quantities of equipment and the destruction of some equipment abandoned by the paramilitaries.

A Commander at the Heart of RSF Operations

Mehdi Jabal Moon was among the main field commanders of the Rapid Support Forces. He notably commanded their artillery during their deployment in Khartoum, where fighting between the army and paramilitaries erupted in April 2023.

In recent months, he had supervised operations in several sectors of Darfur. His military activities extended particularly to the regions of Girgira and Tiné in North Darfur, as well as Koulbous, Bir Daqiq, and Bir Saliba in West Darfur.

Fighting has been concentrated for several months in areas north of El-Geneina. The joint force allied with the army seeks to prevent the advancement of the RSF towards Tiné, which is among the few enclaves still controlled by regular forces in western Darfur.

This setback comes as the paramilitaries are also facing difficulties in Kordofan, a strategic region linking Darfur to Khartoum. Strikes near the borders with Egypt and Libya have further targeted ammunition convoys and disrupted supply routes for the RSF.

Supply Routes Under Pressure

Satellite images analyzed on Wednesday reportedly show drone strikes against weapon convoys coming from Libya after their entry into Sudanese territory. These operations aim to target the channels used to transport military equipment to the paramilitaries.

According to these images, the al-Koufra airport in southern Libya has resumed operations after its main runway was closed for repairs. This facility serves as an important transit point for cargoes transported overland to Sudan.

A portion of the military support intended for the RSF is said to transit through Libya from Marshal Khalifa Haftar, presented as an ally of the United Arab Emirates. The al-Koufra airport is described as a hub for this arms trafficking.

The war between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces has plunged the country into a major humanitarian crisis. Fighting continues in several regions, as each side seeks to consolidate its positions and secure its supply routes.