US troops are moving into position for a possible embassy evacuation mission amid intense fighting in Sudan
- US troops are deploying to positions near Sudan amid a worsening situation there.
- Forces are being deployed for possibly 'securing and potentially facilitating the departure of US Embassy personnel,' the Pentagon said.
US forces are being deployed to positions near Sudan in case they are required to rapidly evacuate American diplomatic staff, a Pentagon official said on Thursday.
The east African country has been gripped by intense and deadly violence for nearly a week after fighting broke out between Sudan's national army and a rival paramilitary group.
The Department of Defense, through US Africa Command, is monitoring the situation in Sudan and conducting prudent planning for various contingencies, Pentagon Spokesperson Lt. Col. Phil Ventura said in a statement.
"As part of this, we are deploying additional capabilities nearby in the region for contingency purposes related to securing and potentially facilitating the departure of US Embassy personnel from Sudan, if circumstances require it," he said, adding that the Pentagon does not "speculate" on potential future missions "as a matter of policy and security."
The Pentagon did not clarify where, exactly, its forces would be sent or how many troops would be included. The New York Times reported that American soldiers are being deployed to nearby Djibouti, where the US has a military installation.
Violence in Sudan first broke out on Saturday with clashes broke out between forces loyal to two rival generals — Gen. Abdel Fattah al Burhan, who commands Sudan's army, and Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, who leads the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary. These two individuals have been jockeying for power since they orchestrated a 2021 military coup together, which led to tensions over how to integrate the RSF into the regular army.
More than 330 people have been killed and nearly 3,200 more have been injured so far during the sudden outbreak of fighting, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, said in a Thursday statement.
The American embassy in Khartoum, Sudan's capital, said in a security alert that it is closely monitoring the situation on the ground and noted reports of gunfire, assaults, home invasions, and looting. It "strongly advised" that US citizens stay inside and shelter in place, while also discouraging travel to the embassy.
On Tuesday, the top US diplomat, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed that a US diplomatic convoy had come under fire earlier in the week, but clarified that there were no injuries to American personnel. "This action was reckless, it was irresponsible, and of course unsafe — a diplomatic convoy with diplomatic plates, a US flag, being fired upon," he said.
The US embassy noted in its security alert that it was under a "shelter in place order" and is unable to provide emergency services. "Due to the uncertain security situation in Khartoum and closure of the airport, it is not currently safe to undertake a US government-coordinated evacuation of private US citizens," the embassy said.