Sudanese army troops and allied forces seized several areas around Al-Khuway on Friday morning after clashes with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. Military sources told reporters that the army inflicted losses on the paramilitary group and continued advancing toward the city.
Army personnel released footage showing troops deployed in areas near Al-Khuway, including Suraif Ankoush. The army wants to recapture Al-Khuway. This would become the first city in West Kordofan to fall under its control during the current offensive.
Located between North and West Kordofan states, Al-Khuway is an economic and commercial hub for livestock trading and gum arabic production. The city has been under Rapid Support Forces control since late May 2025.
Last Saturday, the army captured Ayal Bakhit, northwest of Al-Khuway, following clashes with the paramilitary group, according to informed sources. The developments follow escalating fighting across North, West and South Kordofan since October 25.
Separately, the army said its air defenses shot down a strategic drone on Friday afternoon in the Dandro area of Blue Nile state. Air defenses managed to shoot down a hostile strategic drone that had crossed the border from Ethiopia, the military said in a brief statement.
The military did not identify the drone operator or specify its mission. On November 3, the army reported that it had downed another strategic drone that crossed into Blue Nile from Ethiopia.
Following attacks on power stations and other facilities in several Sudanese cities in October, Sudan filed a complaint against Ethiopia with the UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council. Khartoum accused Addis Ababa of targeting facilities in several states, saying the drones used in the attacks had been launched from Ethiopian territory.
Sudanese authorities and rights groups have also accused the Rapid Support Forces of targeting civilian facilities during the war. The paramilitary group maintains that it works to protect civilians.
The army and the Rapid Support Forces have been fighting since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced around 13 million, according to UN estimates.
