Sudanese army launches operations to secure Umm Kureidim ahead of West Kordofan advance

Sudan’s army has launched special operations through reconnaissance and combat units on the outskirts of Umm Kureidim, a strategic area linking North and West Kordofan, according to military sources cited by Al Arabiya and Al Hadath.

The sources said army forces have moved on the ground to secure control of the area through these operations, paving the way for an advance toward West Kordofan, specifically targeting Al-Khuwei and the northern districts of Al-Nuhud locality.

Umm Kureidim is the last border point between North Kordofan and West Kordofan. Securing it would allow the army to position itself on the border of West Kordofan, which serves as the Rapid Support Forces’ (RSF) forward defensive line for the Darfur region.

In a separate development, Mohammed Deidan, spokesperson for the Special Operations Forces in West Kordofan, told Al Arabiya and Al Hadath that their forces carried out a special operation last night west of Al-Mazroub, destroying six RSF vehicles and capturing more than ten of its members.

In North Kordofan, Mutawakkil Wakeel, spokesperson for the Joint Forces, told the channels that RSF forces killed 23 civilians in the Umm Badir area, describing the incident as a serious violation against civilians.

Wakeel stated: “The RSF seeks to instill fear and terror among citizens, but the state will not allow this. The efforts of its forces continue to assert sovereignty and protect residents from the intimidation campaigns carried out by the RSF.”