The Sudanese army launches the largest military operation against the Rapid Support Militia in Khartoum

The Sudanese army launched artillery and air strikes in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on Thursday, military sources told Reuters, in the largest operation to retake territory there since the start of its 17-month war on the Rapid Support Forces.

Eyewitnesses reported heavy shelling and clashes as army forces attempted to cross bridges across the Nile River linking the three neighbouring cities that make up the major capital, Khartoum, Omdurman and Bahri.

Al Jazeera's correspondent said that the Sudanese army crossed from Omdurman to Khartoum and Khartoum Bahri and clashed with the Rapid Support Forces, adding that the Sudanese army took control of the entrances to three bridges linking Khartoum, Omdurman and Khartoum Bahri.

Although the army regained some territory in Omdurman earlier this year, it has relied mostly on artillery and airstrikes, and has been unable to dislodge the more effective ground forces of the Rapid Support Forces based in other parts of the capital.

Military sources also told Al Jazeera that the army attacked several military sites of the Rapid Support Forces around the presidential palace in central Khartoum, with violent clashes taking place.

The army's attack included the Bahri area, north of Khartoum, using heavy and light weapons in the battles that are still ongoing, in addition to the Sudanese Air Force carrying out several sorties in the capital.

The sources revealed that the army advanced on several fronts after taking control of the entrances to the White Nile and Al-Fatehab bridges from Khartoum and the Halfaya Bridge from Bahri.

#ForgottenSudan #Sudan
The Sudanese army crosses from Omdurman to #Khartoum Khartoum Bahri clashed with the Rapid Support Forces and expelled them from the two cities towards the desert, and a large number of deaths fell among the ranks of the Rapid Support Militia.

🔴The Sudanese army controls the entrances to 3 bridges linking #Khartoum and Omdurman... pic.twitter.com/AgESir8xZT

— Ghayat Farzat (@ghiatfarzat) September 26, 2024

A military source was quoted by Agence France-Presse as saying: "Our forces are engaged in fierce fighting with the rebel militia inside Khartoum," noting that army forces crossed two main bridges over the Nile River separating the parts of the capital under their control and those under the control of the Rapid Support Forces.

For their part, residents reported that the clashes began at dawn, in what appears to be the army's first major attack in months to retake parts of the capital controlled by the support forces.

Source: Agencies + Al Jazeera