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January 16, 2026 (HABILA) – The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) reported on Friday that their combined forces within the “Tasis” alliance successfully countered an attack by the Sudanese military on Habila in South Kordofan State.

Intense fighting occurred on Thursday in Habila, about 30 kilometers from Dilling, the second-largest city in South Kordofan. The military’s operation was said to be intended to end the continuous siege of Dilling. The Sudanese army has not yet provided any statement concerning the conflicts in the Habila region.

Habila is significant due to its location along the road linking Dilling and Kadugli, a crucial path that both parties are striving to dominate. In a statement released on Friday morning, the SPLM-N, led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, refuted claims that the army had entered the town.

The group mentioned that the Tasis alliance forces, including its soldiers and the RSF, have complete control over Habila and the nearby access points. The statement noted that the alliance has maintained control of the region for almost two years without any major progress from government troops. As per the SPLM-N, past and present military efforts to move toward Habila have led to retreats and substantial losses in both personnel and equipment.

The statement also stated that allied forces are making progress on multiple fronts, maintaining that the capture of Kadugli and Dilling is merely a matter of time. Both the RSF and SPLM-N have surrounded the two main cities for nearly nine months, bombarding them with artillery and drone attacks.

In its statement released on Friday, RSF referred to the success in Habila as a major advancement. The organization described the fighting as a qualitative move towards securing stronger positions. RSF reported causing substantial damage to the army, capturing military vehicles, arms, and supplies, while preventing military advances.

Nevertheless, a source affiliated with the army-backed groups stated that military forces moved into Habila on Thursday but carried out a strategic retreat following unexplained military goals.

From a humanitarian perspective, the local administration in areas controlled by SPLM-N stated that fresh waves of displaced individuals have reached Kalandi Payam in the Habila region. This increase is due to the significant worsening of humanitarian situations in Dilling, Al-Karkal, and Al-Samasim.

The local government mentioned that it is striving to establish and protect routes to enable the safe departure of civilians from areas affected by conflict. It highlighted that Habila has currently accommodated around 2,750 displaced individuals, primarily women, children, and the elderly, who are staying in camps located in Kalandi Payam, receiving temporary shelter and support. The authority reiterated its appeal to humanitarian groups to accelerate aid delivery to those affected.