– US Embassy Convoy Comes Under Attack In Sudan, Ceasefire Crumbling:
Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed on Tuesday that a US diplomatic convoy came under intense gunfire in the capital of Sudan following multiple days of fighting between the military and a rival paramilitary group amid a struggle to rule the nation.
Blinken in statements issued from Japan called the attack, which included at least 100 rounds fired on the US embassy convoy according to international reports, a “reckless” and “irresponsible” attack and called on both sides of the raging conflict to uphold the safety and security of American diplomatic personnel.
He confirmed that none of the Americans were injured, and that the convoy came under fire despite clearly bearing diplomatic plates and a US flag.
The attackers are believed affiliated with the Sudanese Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia in Khartoum, especially given assailants from the same militia were likely behind a prior attack on the EU ambassador within his own residence.
US ambassador to Sudan John Godfrey wasn’t injured in the rare incident, nor was he traveling in the US convoy when it came under fire.
The RSF has been engulfed in a battle with the country’s military over several days, with two rival generals leading the civil conflict, and as the death toll mounts, soaring past 185 killed as of Tuesday. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that the spiraling conflict “is now catastrophic” for civilians and as an unfolding humanitarian disaster.
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