Egypt once again called on Iran to show “flexibility” to resolve the crisis in the region and avoid renewed “military confrontation.” This came during a phone call between Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel Ati and his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, to discuss the latest developments on the regional scene and the efforts made to contain the current tensions.
According to a statement by the official spokesman for the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nader Zaki, on Friday, the call witnessed an exchange of views regarding the recent developments in the region, and the concerns they raise about the possibilities of renewed military confrontations and their repercussions on regional and international security and stability.
Abdel Ati stressed “the importance of giving priority to diplomatic solutions and for all parties to show the necessary degree of openness, which allows reaching a political settlement of the crisis by showing the necessary flexibility and reaching compromise solutions that achieve the interests of all parties and prevent the region from sliding into a new wave of escalation, and the massive political, economic and humanitarian repercussions that may result from it on the region and the entire world.”
Egypt repeatedly renews its full solidarity with the sisterly Gulf states and stands by them in the face of everything that affects their security and territorial integrity. It also affirms “its rejection of any attacks aimed at harming the sovereignty and stability of the Gulf states.”
On Friday, Egypt condemned in the strongest terms the attempt to target Medina in the sister Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a ballistic missile. It expressed its strong condemnation of such attacks, which represent a flagrant violation of the rules and provisions of international law, and undermine the security and stability of the region, as well as efforts to calm the situation and efforts to establish peace.
In a statement to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Egypt affirmed its “full solidarity with the Kingdom and its standing by its side in all the measures it takes to defend its security, sovereignty, and the safety of its lands and citizens, given that the Kingdom’s security is closely interconnected with Egyptian national security, and among the lists of stability in the entire region.”
A telephone call took place between the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and his Egyptian counterpart, on Thursday evening, as part of continuing the existing coordination between the two brotherly countries regarding the successive developments in the region.
According to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman, during the call, the two ministers discussed the joint efforts made to restore calm and prevent escalation in the region in coordination with regional and international partners, including the United States of America and the sisterly State of Qatar.
They stressed “the necessity of promoting wisdom and the language of dialogue, allowing more time for diplomacy and political paths, and encouraging the various parties concerned to negotiate and show the necessary flexibility to spare the region the repercussions and risks of renewed military confrontations, the negative repercussions of which the region is still suffering from.”
The two ministers agreed to “continue coordination and consultation and intensify movements and communications during the current period with the various parties concerned, to try to reach consensus on prevailing in the negotiation process, and to pledge not to take any escalatory steps to prevent the deterioration of the security situation, or the increase of tensions in the region.”
The Kordofan and Blue Nile regions in Sudan witnessed simultaneous field developments, as sources reported that the army and its allied forces took control of the Kazkel and Abu Qoud regions in North Kordofan, in exchange for the Rapid Support Forces’ control of the town of Al-Kili in the Blue Nile region.
Platforms loyal to the army reported that its forces entered the two towns located on the road leading to South Kordofan, after the Rapid Support Forces withdrew from them without clashes, while it was not possible to verify the full scope of the new military deployment or determine the circumstances of the withdrawal.
The announcement by the army and its allies in West Kordofan came a day after it announced its control of the town of Umm Marahik two days ago in northwest Kordofan, which Anadolu Agency attributed to Muhammad Didan, whom it identified as the spokesman for the Special Action Forces in the Kordofan region, and that he confirmed control of the region after battles against the Rapid Support Forces, while fighters from the army and the joint force supporting it published clips that they said documented their entry into the town.
Dedan said, in a testimony circulated on social media platforms, on Wednesday, that the army, the joint force, and the formations supporting it carried out, within 48 hours, combing operations that included more than 35 villages and sites, and they reached the outskirts of the town of Ayal Bakhit. He explained that the operations resulted in the seizure of dozens of vehicles and the capture of a number of members of the Rapid Support Forces.
These movements are located within a front extending west and north of the city of El Obeid, towards the western border of the Kordofan region. The army had expanded its control in North Kordofan during the past months, by reclaiming the cities of Bara, Jabra al-Sheikh, Soudari, and Al-Mazroub, in addition to sites on the land roads linking them, most notably the road linking Omdurman, in the capital, Khartoum, and El-Obeid, the largest city in the Kordofan region.
The army maintained its control over the city of Al-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, and recovered the cities of Umm Rawaba and Al-Rahad, in addition to cities and sites in the north and east of the state.
The Rapid Support Forces were stationed in locations west and south of the city of El Obeid, including the Kazkel and Abu Qoud axes, before new reports were received about the army’s entry into them.
In West Kordofan State, the Rapid Support Forces are still imposing their control over most of the major cities, including Al-Fula, Al-Nahud, Al-Muglad, Abu Zabd, and Al-Khawi, while the army’s recent military movements are focused on axes extending into the state, starting from North Kordofan.
As for South Kordofan, areas of influence are divided between the army and the “People’s Movement” led by Abdel Aziz Al-Hilu, in addition to groups allied with the “Rapid Support Forces.” While the army controls the cities of Kadugli, Dilling, Abu Jubaiha, Talodi, Habila and surrounding areas, the “SPLM” controls the town of Kauda and large areas of the Nuba Mountains, while the “Rapid Support Forces” control the city of Al-Dabaibat, and are deployed in a number of other locations and areas in the state.
The vicinity of Dilling, the second city of the state, witnessed new operations during the past days, as military sources reported that the army had taken control of Khor Warl, southeast of the city, and military elements published clips that they said documented entering the area, in conjunction with artillery shelling and an exchange of fire around the city.
In the Blue Nile region, the Rapid Support Forces announced the recapture of the Bakori area, and platforms loyal to them said they were advancing towards the town of Dandro, a day after the army announced that it had repelled an attack on the town, which it had regained on October 22, after the Rapid Support Forces and the Popular Movement took control of it last August.
These developments preceded the control of these same forces over the strategic town of Sali on Tuesday, and video clips showed fighters inside the town.
The cities of Kurmuk and Qaisan and the town of Sarkum remained under the control of the Rapid Support Forces and the People's Movement, with the army maintaining positions close to these areas, while the People's Movement maintained its control over the town of Yabus, one of its strongholds near the borders with Ethiopia and the Republic of South Sudan.
In Bao Governorate, reports indicate that the Rapid Support Forces and the Popular Movement control the town of Malkin, while the army and its allies repelled an attack on the towns of the Silk during the past January and February.
The cities of Al-Damazin, Al-Rusairs, Wad Al-Mahi, and Al-Tadamon remain within government control, although Al-Damazin was subjected to intense attacks by drones during Tuesday night and early Wednesday.
Local reports stated that these attacks left civilians dead and wounded, and damaged homes, while Al-Damazin and Al-Rusairs continued to receive thousands of families fleeing the fighting areas in the region.
