Sudanese Army: Two tanks and 224 Rapid Support Forces combat vehicles destroyed

Written by: Ayman Ragab and news agencies

The Sudanese army announced on Tuesday that it had destroyed two tanks and 224 combat vehicles, and seized 36 others belonging to the Rapid Support Forces, during military operations it carried out over the course of two weeks in three combat axes.

The army said in a statement that its forces, with the support of allied forces, carried out qualitative operations during the period from June 15 until Tuesday, in a number of battlefronts, stressing that they achieved “continuous successes” and inflicted heavy losses on the Rapid Support Forces.

224 combat vehicles destroyed

The statement explained that the operations resulted in the destruction of 224 combat vehicles and the capture of 36 others, in addition to the downing of a strategic drone, the destruction of two tanks, and 10 trucks loaded with equipment and fuel, as well as the destruction of two ammunition depots and two fuel depots.

In the Darfur axis, the army reported that its forces and supporting forces managed to shoot down a strategic drone north of the city of Tawisha. It also carried out a military operation in the city of Kalbus and the surrounding areas in West Darfur State, which resulted in the defeat of the Rapid Support Forces and forcing them to retreat, destroying a number of their combat vehicles, and inflicting losses in lives and equipment.

He added that his forces continued, in the Kordofan axis, combing and securing operations in North Kordofan State, and were able to destroy a truck loaded with military equipment, and eliminate elements of the “Rapid Support Forces” in South Kordofan State, while securing the targeted areas.

Control over the areas of Sirkum and Maqja in Blue Nile State

The statement indicated that the army and supporting forces imposed their control over the areas of Sarkam and Maqja in the Blue Nile State, following battles that it described as ”decisive,” which it said resulted in dozens of deaths and injuries among the “Rapid Support Forces,” in addition to the destruction of a number of their combat vehicles.

As of 18:00 (GMT), the Rapid Support Forces had not issued any comment on what was stated in the army's statement.

For months, the states of Darfur, Kordofan, and Blue Nile have witnessed escalating clashes between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces, amid worsening waves of displacement. The Rapid Support Forces control the five states in the Darfur region, with the exception of parts of North Darfur State, which remain under the army's control, while the army exerts its influence over most of the other 13 states, including the capital, Khartoum.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been witnessing a war between the army and the Rapid Support Forces over disagreements regarding the integration of the latter into the military establishment, resulting in the killing of tens of thousands and the displacement of about 13 million people, according to UN estimates.