Sudan’s military and allied forces have claimed control of the strategically located town of Iyal Bakhit in West Kordofan state following clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as fighting intensifies across the Kordofan region.
Mohammed Didan, a spokesperson for the army-aligned Special Action Forces, said troops had entered Iyal Bakhit in the El Khuwei locality and forced RSF fighters to withdraw from the area.
The town, situated near the border between West and North Kordofan, has served as a strategic position for military operations in the region.
According to military sources, RSF forces had previously maintained a significant presence in Iyal Bakhit, using the area to support operations against army positions in neighbouring North Kordofan.
The reported territorial gain comes amid renewed military operations by Sudan’s military and allied groups, which have sought to regain positions south and west of El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan.
The latest offensive forms part of a broader military campaign launched in June to regain territory and disrupt RSF supply routes across the region.
Separately, Sudan’s military announced on Saturday that its air defence systems had intercepted and destroyed an FH-95 drone over Iyal Bakhit.
The military did not identify the drone’s operator in its official statement.
The announcement follows reports of several drone interceptions in Kordofan in recent weeks, as both sides increasingly rely on unmanned aircraft to target military positions and supply networks.
Kordofan has emerged as a major battleground in Sudan’s conflict, with its strategic road networks connecting the RSF’s positions in Darfur to central and eastern Sudan.
The latest developments come as Sudan’s military attempts to consolidate its positions around El Obeid while the RSF and its allies maintain operations across several fronts in the region.
There was no immediate comment from the RSF regarding the reported loss of Iyal Bakhit.
The territorial claims and circumstances surrounding the drone incident could not be independently verified.
Sudan’s conflict, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions, triggering one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises.
