Khartoum, Feb. 22 (SANA) – The Sudanese Armed Forces announced that it repelled an attack by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the strategic city of al-Tina in North Darfur, western Sudan.
A military source told local media that RSF forces launched the assault on Saturday afternoon, triggering heavy clashes involving the use of heavy weapons, before army units succeeded in pushing back the attack, while military operations around the city remain ongoing.
Al-Tina holds strategic importance as one of two crossings designated by the Sudanese government for the entry of humanitarian aid from neighboring Chad, making control of the city directly linked to the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Darfur.
In a related development, Sudanese army aircraft carried out late-night airstrikes on positions inside Nyala International Airport, which is under RSF control. Local sources reported at least two explosions inside the airport, believed to have targeted RSF weapons and military equipment.
The RSF has recently deployed large numbers of fighters in and around Nyala and launched arrest campaigns against civilians accused of cooperating with the army. The Sudanese army had previously destroyed advanced rocket launch platforms at the airport that RSF forces had brought in with plans to deploy them elsewhere.
Since mid-April 2023, Sudan has been gripped by ongoing fighting between the army and the RSF, with prospects for a political settlement appearing remote as the humanitarian crisis deepens, leaving tens of thousands dead, millions displaced, and famine spreading in parts of the country.
