Five soldiers were killed and nine others were injured when a Sudanese army warplane unintentionally bombed a location inside the Sixth Infantry Division headquarters in El Fasher, North Darfur, according to a military statement.
According to a statement from division commanders in El Fasher, the incident happened while the air force was reacting to attempts by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to infiltrate the city.
The unintentional strike was caused by “high interference,” a military spokesperson told Sudanese media.
The spokesperson refuted claims that forces affiliated with the Sudan Liberation Movement were present at the location or that the strike was directed towards weapons depots.
Since the conflict began in April 2024, thousands of people have died and millions have been displaced as a result of the army’s battle with the RSF.
The RSF positions in El Fasher and other areas of North Darfur have been the target of frequent airstrikes by the air force in recent days.
The air force’s participation in recent fights in the area was lauded in the military statement.
RSF’s ability to retaliate against the airstrikes is hampered, according to multiple military sources, by the army’s current use of guided missiles.
The military refuted claims made on social media that the strike was deliberate and claimed many more lives.