DUBAI — Sudan’s army launched a major offensive in the capital, Khartoum, on Thursday, conducting artillery and airstrikes in a bid to reclaim territory held by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). This marks the army’s largest operation in the capital since the conflict began 17 months ago.
The offensive comes ahead of a speech by Sudan’s military leader, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Witnesses reported intense clashes as army forces attempted to cross the Nile River bridges connecting Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri—three cities that make up the greater capital area.
While the army has relied on air and artillery strikes, it has struggled to regain control of key areas from the RSF, which has maintained effective ground forces embedded in parts of the capital. Although the army regained some ground in Omdurman earlier this year, the RSF has continued to make advances in other regions of Sudan.
The conflict has triggered a vast humanitarian crisis, displacing over 10 million people and pushing parts of the country to the brink of famine. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have so far faltered, with the army refusing to participate in peace talks held last month in Switzerland.