The RSF down SAF military aircraft in El Fasher (Video)

The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) announced that they had successfully shot down a military Antonov aircraft belonging to the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) over El-Fasher, North Darfur, before the aircraft dropped barrel bombs on civilians.

The Rapid Support Forces shared in a statement that they had shot down a plane belonging to what they called the Islamic Movement Army, and confirmed the deaths of all crew members, as the wreckage was scattered outside the city.

Activists on social media circulated photos and videos of the plane’s wreckage, indicating that those killed on board were Col. Moataz Ibrahim, Flight Lieutenant Abdullah Kamal, Captain Saif El-Din Mallah, the son of the pilot whose plane was shot down last month in Omdurman, as well as Captain Ahmed Mahmoud, Radio and Jammer Operator Captain Mohamed Abdullah El-Taher Abu Sharma, Radio Assistant Assim Mohamed Zein, Assistant Badawi Balil El-Zein, Assistant Shuaib, Technician and Assistant Yasser Fox.

Activists indicated that the downing of the plane was in retaliation for the hundreds of civilian victims killed in the airstrikes carried out in recent days on the densely populated Tura Market in North Darfur state, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and injuries.

Assayha publishes the Rapid Support Forces’ statement:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Rapid Support Forces

Media Statement

April 3rd, 2025

On Thursday morning, the Rapid Support Forces” (RSF) Air Defense successfully executed a significant operation, leading to the downing of an Antonov aircraft operated by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and their allied terrorist group, the Islamic Movement. The aircraft had been engaged in dropping barrel bombs on unarmed civilians in El Fasher, North Darfur state, and other cities across the country.

The downing of the SAF aircraft, along with its complete destruction and subsequent death of its crew, demonstrates the strength and resilience of our heroic forces in defending and safeguarding civilians from the oppression and aggression of the Islamic Movement and ISIS. This achievement reaffirms our firm determination to push forward and decisively resolve this battle in favor of our great people.

The SAF and their allied Islamic Movement have continued to carry out racially motivated air strikes, employing barrel bombs and chemical weapons targeting villages, residential neighborhoods, and unarmed civilians. These relentless indiscriminate attacks have claimed the lives of thousands of innocent civilians across the country. The most recent atrocity was the Shangil Tubai massacre, resulted in the deaths of more than 400 civilians. This crime was preceded by ther massacres in Turra, Al-Kuma, Kabkabiya, Mellit, Kordofan, Gezira, Omdurman, and Khartoum.

We affirm that the Rapid Support Forces’ Air Defense units remain fully vigilant and prepared to counter any aerial aggression that endangers civilian lives. Our heroic forces, stationed across all front lines , are resolute in their mission to eradicate the Islamic Movement’s militia from its roots and to lay the foundation for a just and equitable Sudan that uproot the injustice and marginalization for all Sudanese people.

Mercy and forgiveness be upon our righteous martyrs.

Office of the Official Spokesman
Rapid Support Forces