Sudanese army says it destroyed RSF air defense system in West Kordofan

By Adel Abdelrheem

KHARTOUM, Sudan (AA) - Sudan's army said Sunday that it had destroyed an air defense system belonging to the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in the West Kordofan state in the southern part of the country.

A military statement said that forces carried out a “qualitative operation” in the Abu Zabad area that resulted in the destruction of an RSF air defense system and inflicted “heavy losses in lives and equipment.”

The army did not provide further details about the operation or the scale of the reported losses.

It said its forces would continue operations “until the country is cleansed of the (RSF) militia.”

There was no comment from the rebel group as of yet.

In addition to the Darfur region, Sudan’s three Kordofan states -- North, West and South -- have seen heavy fighting between the Sudanese army and the RSF.

The conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 13 million people, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises and famine conditions, according to UN reports.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio in Istanbul