Sudanese Air Strike Claims Lives of Civilians in Khartoum Battle
In a devastating incident on Sunday, a Sudanese Army air strike targeted rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) positions, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians, including women and children. The clash took place in the capital city of Khartoum, where fighting had resumed between the RSF and the army over control of a crucial military base. Last month, the paramilitary had made substantial advances in this battle.
The Al Shagarah base, which houses the army’s Armoured Corps headquarters, witnessed intense combat between the army and the RSF. Unfortunately, heavy casualties were inflicted on both sides, with scores of innocent civilians from neighboring residential areas losing their lives during the fighting.
The sprawling complex is now primarily under the control of the RSF, leaving army troops besieged in a section facing the Nile. This military base comprises repair and maintenance hangars, arms depots, shooting ranges, and a significant number of tanks and armored vehicles.
Heartbroken residents took to social media to mourn the loss of their loved ones in the tragic air strike. One Facebook user, Mohammed Ahmed Senteen, shared the devastating news about his wife, children, and niece, along with 34 other individuals who perished in Omdurman.
Additional reports suggest that at least 20 people were killed in a separate air strike on Sunday in southern Khartoum. Residents and activists received assistance from the neighborhood’s resistance committee, a volunteer group that played a vital role in organizing pro-democracy rallies before the war but now focuses on aiding families caught in the crossfire.
At this point, it remains unclear whether the civilian deaths resulted from one or two air strikes, as the army made no mention of the attacks at the time. Sadly, this is not the first instance where the army has employed air strikes and heavy artillery, inadvertently causing harm to civilians. Previously, an air strike on July 8 claimed the lives of approximately 24 innocent individuals.
In contrast, the RSF has a stronghold over most parts of Khartoum, with their battle-hardened fighters strategically placed in residential districts, utilizing captured homes as bases. Anas Sidahmed, a resident, narrated how the sound of heavy artillery and gunfire from the Al Shagarah base reverberated across the city, accompanied by columns of smoke rising into the sky.
What was initially a fight for military and political supremacy between two rival generals has escalated into a massive humanitarian crisis in Sudan. Over half of the population, approximately 48 million people, now require urgent humanitarian aid and protection, according to the UN. Alarmingly, six million individuals are on the brink of famine.
The conflict has forced nearly five million Sudanese citizens to flee their homes, with over one million seeking refuge in neighboring countries. Among those displaced, around 2.8 million hail from Khartoum alone, accounting for more than half of the city’s pre-war population of roughly five million.
The residents who have stayed behind in the capital are grappling with power and water cuts, inadequate healthcare, and soaring prices of essential commodities like food and fuel. Moreover, hundreds of homes, predominantly belonging to individuals who have fled the city, have been looted by RSF fighters.
The situation in Sudan remains dire, with escalating violence and a desperate need for humanitarian assistance. Both sides must prioritize the safety and well-being of civilians and work towards a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of innocent lives and alleviate the suffering of the Sudanese people.
