KHARTOUM — At least 35 civilians were killed and 40 others injured following intense shelling by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on residential neighborhoods in the city of El-Fasher, North Darfur, the Sudanese army announced on Friday.

In a statement, the army’s 6th Infantry Division, stationed in El-Fasher, said the RSF launched “indiscriminate and scattered artillery shelling” on Thursday, targeting densely populated areas across the city.

The attack resulted in the deaths of women, children, and the elderly, while dozens of others sustained serious injuries and were transferred to local hospitals for treatment.

The army added that it successfully repelled a “failed RSF ground assault” on the northeastern outskirts of El-Fasher.

According to the statement, government forces killed 80 RSF fighters, destroyed 10 armed vehicles, and inflicted significant losses on the group.

The RSF has not issued any official response to the army’s claims.

El-Fasher, a strategic hub for humanitarian operations across all five Darfur states, has witnessed repeated and deadly clashes between the Sudanese army and RSF since May 2024, despite international appeals to prevent fighting in civilian areas.

Earlier this week, the RSF claimed it had seized control of the Zamzam refugee camp near El-Fasher after heavy clashes with government forces.

The United Nations reported that at least 400 civilians have been killed and nearly 400,000 displaced due to the escalating violence in and around the city.

Since the outbreak of conflict on April 15, 2023, between the RSF and the Sudanese army, the country has descended into one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

More than 20,000 people have been killed, and over 15 million displaced, according to the UN and local authorities. However, research from U.S.-based scholars estimates the death toll could be as high as 130,000.

In recent weeks, the RSF has reportedly lost significant territory across Sudan to advancing government forces, amid continued international calls for a ceasefire and a political resolution to the conflict. — Agencies