Seven civilians killed in Sudan's Omdurman by RSF bombing

Seven civilians were killed following bombing by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group in Sudan, the health ministry said on Friday.

The strike in Omdurman, Sudan's second city, also left 25 people injured.

Civilians faced "intense" RSF artillery fire, according to the health ministry in Khartoum State, where Omdurman is located.

The dead included a child and three women, the Anadolu news agency reported.

A war is ranging in Sudan between the Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, Sudan's de facto ruler, and the RSF, led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, commonly known as Hemedti.

The conflict erupted in April 2023 and has killed tens of thousands of people, forced one in five Sudanese from their homes, and brought acute hunger to more than 25 million people – more than half the population.

The fighting has played into a competition for influence in Sudan and the surrounding region among foreign powers including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iran and Russia.

Gulf states have previously pursued investments in sectors including agriculture and ports, while Russia has been seeking a naval base on Sudan's coast.

The UAE has provided arms to the RSF, according to UN experts, while sources say Iran has flown in military support for the army.

Egypt and its President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi have deep ties to Burhan and the army.

Reuters and AFP contributed to this report.