Videos circulating online show General Abdel Fattah al Burhan’s army units deploying Iranian-made T-72Z tanks in Khartoum and parts of Kordofan, reviving scrutiny of Khartoum’s links with Tehran.
The tanks, known locally as Zubair-1, appear in footage operating alongside forces loyal to Burhan.
Middle East 24 reported that the armour ranks among the Burhan’s army’s heaviest assets in battles for strategic territory as Sudan’s internal war grinds on.
The report echoes earlier accounts that Sudan has acquired Iranian Mohajer-6 drones, used for reconnaissance and precision strikes in recent operations.
Military analyst Ali Hussein Al-Rih told Sky News Arabia that Iranian support is channelled through hardline officers who maintain discreet ties with Tehran.
He said the cooperation points to Islamist factions once again using the army to advance broader regional ambitions and strategic positioning.
Analysts describe the combined use of tanks and drones as a form of hybrid warfare, citing the Zubair-1’s reinforced armour and manoeuvrability in urban settings.
As the fighting drags on and civilian suffering deepens, analysts warn that rival external influences risk prolonging the conflict and undermining prospects for a political settlement.
