The Sudanese army said on Tuesday it repelled attacks by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Kordofan and Darfur over the past 24 hours, claiming heavy losses inflicted on the paramilitary group.

In a statement, the army said its forces and allied joint units continued operations across multiple fronts, confronting RSF attacks and causing significant losses in personnel and equipment.

According to the statement, RSF launched a large-scale assault on army positions in the town of Al Tina in North Darfur.

The army said its soldiers and joint forces repelled the attack, destroying 35 combat vehicles and seizing 49 others while killing dozens of RSF troops.

'Fierce battle'

It added that another RSF assault on the city of Al Dilling in South Kordofan was also repelled, with five combat vehicles destroyed and four others seized along with communication equipment.

The army also said its air defences shot down what it described as a “hostile strategic drone” on Tuesday morning over Al Obeid in North Kordofan.

In a separate development, the army said its forces fought a “fierce battle” in the city of Bara in North Kordofan before repositioning outside the city after inflicting heavy losses on RSF.

On Monday, RSF said its troops had taken control of Bara following clashes with the army.

Tens of thousands of civilians flee

Alongside Darfur, Sudan’s three Kordofan states have seen intensified fighting in recent weeks between the army and RSF, forcing tens of thousands of civilians to flee.

Since April 2023, the Sudanese army and RSF have been engaged in a conflict over plans to integrate the paramilitary force into the military.

The fighting has triggered one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands killed and nearly 13 million people displaced.