Top US diplomat says fighters opened fire on a clearly marked US Embassy convoy during a bloody battle in Sudan that has left nearly 200 people dead

• An American diplomatic convoy was fired on during intense fighting in Sudan this week.
• No one was hurt during the attack, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Tuesday.

Armed fighters opened fire on a clearly marked US diplomatic convoy on Monday in Sudan, the top US diplomat said. Though there were no injuries among the Americans, the incident was condemned as "reckless" and "irresponsible."

The incident unfolded as Sudan's army and a rival paramilitary group have spent the last four days battling to secure control over the massive east African nation. The short conflict has killed scores of people and left Western officials, including those in the US, urging both sides to deescalate.

"I'm limited in terms of the details and what I can get into from here, but I can confirm that yesterday we had an American diplomatic convoy that was fired on," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Japan on Tuesday. "All of our people are safe and unharmed. But this action was reckless, it was irresponsible, and of course unsafe — a diplomatic convoy with diplomatic plates, a US flag, being fired upon."

Blinken said he spoke earlier with Gen. Abdel Fattah al Burhan, who commands Sudan's army, and Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary and also is referred to as Hemedti. During these separate calls, Blinken said "I made very clear that any attacks, threats, dangers posed to our diplomats were totally unacceptable."

"This particular incident is still being investigated in terms of understanding exactly what happened," Blinken told reporters. "The initial reports that we have is that it was undertaken by forces associated with the RSF, and again, I made very clear in my conversation with General Hemedti that any attacks that endanger our diplomats are totally unacceptable, and I shared the same with General Burhan."

The US officials were traveling from their homes in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, to an American residential compound in the city, when gunfire hit an armored vehicle that was a part of the convoy, The New York Times reported.

A State Department spokesperson told Insider that the incident did not involve the vehicle of John Godfrey, the US ambassador to Sudan. "We call on all actors to establish an immediate ceasefire, and take active steps to reduce tensions and ensure the safety of all civilians, UN and other diplomatic personnel, and humanitarian workers," they added.

The incident involving American personnel was not the first time Western officials have been attacked in Sudan in recent days. Earlier on Monday, the European Union's ambassador to the country was assaulted at his home, said Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign affairs chief.

He called the incident "a gross violation of the Vienna Convention," adding that "security of diplomatic premises and staff is a primary responsibility of Sudanese authorities and an obligation under international law."

Violence first broke out across Sudan on Saturday when clashes erupted between forces loyal to the two rival generals, who had been jockeying for power following a 2021 military coup that they orchestrated together. Tensions increased as they struggled to integrate the RSF into the country's army.

The sudden conflict has seen exchanges of gunfire, artillery, and airstrikes, trapping millions of people in their homes. Over 180 people had been killed and another 1,800 were left injured as of Monday, according to the United Nations. Among the dead are three employees of the World Food Programme, a UN organization.

By Tuesday afternoon local time, it appeared as though the warring sides had agreed to a 24-hour ceasefire, the Associated Press reported, citing Arab media.

"The situation has already led to horrendous loss of life, including many civilians. Any further escalation could be devastating for the country and the region," UN Secretary-General António Guterres said. "I reaffirm that the United Nations stands with the people of Sudan at this very difficult time, with full support for their efforts to restore the democratic transition and build a peaceful, secure future."