The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) claimed they inflicted heavy losses on a large convoy of armed movements in North Darfur. However, the commander of the opposing Joint Force refuted this, asserting that they had defeated the RSF and forced them to retreat.
The ongoing battle for El Fasher, under RSF siege since April, saw clashes near Malha. The Joint Force, consisting of army-aligned groups, deployed fighters from as far as Libya to break the siege.
In a statement, the RSF claimed that over 450 combatants were killed, and 137 vehicles were captured after they “crushed a mobile force of hundreds of combat vehicles” belonging to the armed groups. However, a Joint Force commander denied this claim, stating they had delivered “an unprecedented defeat” to the RSF, destroyed vehicles, and captured soldiers.
He added that the Joint Force convoy was advancing toward El Fasher while the RSF retreated towards Mellit.
The RSF and the Sudanese army have been engaged in conflict since May, with much of Darfur now under RSF control.