The key facts

  • Sudan's army air defenses shot down an FH-95 drone in the Ayyal Bahit area of West Kordofan
  • The drone's operator is not identified in the statement
  • Fighting in three Kordofan states has continued since October 25

Downed drone and context of the offensive

The Sudanese army said on Saturday that its air defenses had shot down a 'hostile' FH-95 drone over West Kordofan state in the south of the country. According to an army spokesman, the drone was downed in the morning in the Ayyal Bahit area; the statement was distributed via the state-run SUNA agency, reports Anadolu. Who was operating the aircraft is not specified in the statement.

Situation in the region

The announcement coincided with an escalation of fighting between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) across three Kordofan states. On Thursday, the army said it had taken control of four districts in North and South Kordofan, destroyed 40 RSF combat vehicles and captured 43 more. According to the army, in previous weeks it had also seized 11 districts in North Kordofan following clashes with the RSF. Fighting in North, West and South Kordofan has been ongoing since October 25, with both sides seeking to consolidate their positions in the region. The war between the army and the RSF began in April 2023 and, according to UN estimates, has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.