Sudan army captures Halfaya Bridge, breaks Kadroo siege
Plus: RSF strike army positions in River Nile State
The Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) seized another bridge across the Nile yesterday—the third bridge in three days—advancing into the Halfaya neighborhood of Khartoum Bahri and linking up with troops advancing from Kadroo.
The operation effectively ends the siege of the Kadroo Military Area, allowing this enclave to be reinforced and resupplied.
Military media broadcast scenes of jubilant troops of the so-called “Karari army” of Omdurman cheering and embracing those of the “Kadroo army” of Khartoum Bahri. SAF’s army in Omdurman is much more numerous and better equipped than the one in Kadroo, so the unification of these two forces is a significant development.
The SAF advance seems to have happened without significant fighting, which is remarkable given the strategic importance of the territory seized.
The army’s Khartoum Bahri offensive began Thursday, the same day as another major offensive into Khartoum itself. Troops from Kadroo advanced west toward Ingaz Street and seized the Rayhan Hospital. (Previously, SAF had raided west from Kadroo toward this area, but they never sustainably controlled it).
Meanwhile, troops from Omdurman attacked across the Halfaya Bridge—one lane of which was destroyed in July—and advanced 3 km toward the junction of Halfaya Bridge Road and Al Mauna Street, where the two forces met.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have controlled the east bank of the Halfaya Bridge for more than a year while the army controlled the west bank. SAF have made incursions across the bridge but the RSF always succeeded in driving them back, until now. In recent months, drone attacks and artillery attacks (aided by drone spotters) have made the RSF’s defense of the Halfaya Bridge more difficult. The bridge’s access road crosses 2 km of open farmland, making it difficult for the RSF to guard the approach to the bridge without being shelled.
Meanwhile, battles also took place yesterday north of Bahri near the River Nile State border, and in Khartoum itself. Heavy fighting in these areas, which drew RSF troops away from Bahri, could explain the lack of resistance at the Halfaya Bridge. Moreover, recently the RSF has pulled troops away from the capital to attack El Fasher and Sennar, spreading thin their defenses in Bahri, Khartoum, and Omdurman.
If the RSF counterattack to recapture Halfaya, the area could witness heavy fighting. If not, the army may continue its advance toward the populous Shambat district, which is en route to the still besieged Signal Corps and General Command.
SAF troops yesterday already advanced about 2 km southward from the Halfaya Junction into Halfaya Elmouluk neighborhood, which is north of Shambat Extension, according to geolocated video (15.702683, 32.555981).
Approximately 10-15 civilians in Bahri are already dying per day due to shelling and starvation. Further escalation undoubtedly will cost more lives.
Fighting continues near SAF bridgehead in Khartoum
Today marks the fourth day since the Sudanese army seized two bridges across the White Nile at Mogran in northwest Khartoum. This operation triggered heavy fighting as the RSF tried to contain the army advance and drive the attackers back to the Nile.
Yesterday, on the third day of fighting, SAF and RSF clashed along Hilton Street and Nile Street, including at the Shaheed Mosque. Despite intense fighting, neither side has advanced much since the first day of fighting, though the RSF appear to have lost control of the Coral Hotel (formerly the Hilton).
For now, the RSF have contained the SAF bridgehead to a maximum extent of about 1 km. The main area of SAF control, apart from the bridges themselves, is the Mogran Family Park, located where the Blue Nile and White Nile rivers meet.
SAF may also control the Petrodar and GNPOC towers, which were both gutted by fire, while the RSF control the Zain Tower, the Central Bank building, and the Sahel and Sahara Tower, guarding against a farther SAF advance into Khartoum.
Battle of Hajar Al-Asal
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) attacked SAF and SAF-allied troops in River Nile State yesterday, capturing a number of vehicles and killing dozens of soldiers. The fighting took place at Hajar al-Asal near the border between Khartoum State and River Nile State, about 35 km north of the Jaili Refinery and 70 km south of Shendi.
The battle involved a mix of SAF troops and allied Sudan Liberation Movement fighters. SAF and SLM troops recently had arrived to secure this area, bringing them close to RSF troops guarding the Khartoum-Shendi road.
This dry and sparsely populated area contains a number of hills and a rocky plateau, which the RSF have used as a stronghold and lookout to guard against SAF incursions. During peacetime, it served as a nature reserve, popular for day outings and camping trips for visitors and residents of the capital.
In a statement yesterday, the RSF spokesperson claimed that the attack was intended to prevent a SAF “infiltration” toward Jaili Refinery. He claimed they killed 320 men and captured 48 combat vehicles and pursued the retreating forces toward Shendi.
Although this is likely a significant exaggeration, geolocated videos from the area confirm that there were SAF losses, including men and equipment (⚠️ graphic).
This fighting only involved advance elements of the SAF forces in River Nile State. Large reserves remain at Ad-Damer, Atbara, and other locations.
In a related development, a SAF convoy reportedly entered the village of Abu Dulayg in the far east of Khartoum State, without resistance. This settlement is about 130 km east of Bahri. SAF movement in this area could indicate an attempt to bypass the RSF stronghold at Jaili and reach Bahri through the eastern desert instead.
Below: Additional video from near Hajar al-Asal.
