Sudanese Army Encircles Khartoum Airport Amid Intense Battle for Capital

The Sudanese army is tightening its grip around Khartoum airport, according to military sources, as fierce clashes with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continue in a battle to reclaim control of Sudan's capital. The airport, situated in the heart of Khartoum, is the latest focal point in a brutal conflict that is nowhere near resolution.

The army recently achieved a symbolic victory by seizing the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum. This marks a significant milestone in a two-year war that has fractured the country into rival territories. On Wednesday, the army further announced control over Tiba al-Hassanab camp, south of the capital, describing it as the RSF’s last base in central Sudan and Khartoum State.

Eyewitness reports suggest RSF troops have retreated to southern Khartoum, where they've concentrated forces near bridges leading to Omdurman. Military sources claim this is part of the RSF's strategy to secure a path for withdrawal. Meanwhile, the army has steadily regained territories in central Sudan, including parts of Khartoum, while RSF consolidates its hold in western Sudan, deepening the division of the country.

Since its eruption during Sudan's attempted democratic transition, the war has spiraled into what the U.N. calls the world's largest humanitarian crisis. Millions are displaced—12.5 million to be precise—and famine is now a grim reality in several areas, compounded by disease outbreaks.

It’s a tragic twist for a country that once saw the army and RSF working together in an uneasy alliance. Back in 2021, these factions jointly staged a coup that derailed Sudan's transition from the autocratic rule of Omar al-Bashir, ousted in 2019 after decades in power.

The RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo (aka Hemedti), originated from Darfur’s janjaweed militias, long used by Bashir as a counterweight to the army. The army, under General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and RSF clashed over plans for civilian-led governance that would require a delicate integration of RSF into the regular armed forces.

Despite its superior resources, including air power, the army initially struggled to oust RSF due to its entrenched presence in Khartoum neighborhoods. RSF rapidly secured its strongholds in Darfur and other strategic regions, such as El Gezira state. However, the army's recent gains signal a renewed push to cement control over Sudan’s central territories, reigniting fierce battles across the capital and beyond.