In North Kordofan, battles have intensified around El-Obeid and Bara. The RSF seized Bara last month, but the army has launched airstrikes targeting its positions along the Bara axis, while the RSF retaliated with artillery fire on nearby villages.
In South Kordofan, fierce clashes have been reported around Dilling and Kadugli. On Nov. 7, RSF and its ally, the SPLM-N faction led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, shelled Dilling, killing several civilians. The army responded with heavy fire northeast of the city. Both Dilling and Kadugli remain under siege, with humanitarian access cut off.
In West Kordofan, Babnousa has once again become a key battlefield. The army said its 22nd Infantry Division repelled a massive RSF assault involving drones and artillery. Local aid groups report that more than 170,000 civilians have fled the city, which has been under siege for nearly two years.
Military experts say the army’s current strategy is to consolidate control in Kordofan before pushing westward to retake Darfur. “Fighting continues, and progress will persist until all Sudanese territory is recaptured,” military analyst Moatasem Abdel Qader said.
Meanwhile, the RSF claims it is preparing for what it calls the “second battle to liberate Sudan,” pledging to push through central states toward Port Sudan, where the transitional government is based. The war between the RSF and the Sudanese army, which began in April 2023, has killed tens of thousands and displaced about 13 million people.