Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces said they captured the army’s Sixth Division headquarters in El Fasher, the besieged, famine-stricken city in Darfur, potentially altering the long fight for the region. The military offered no comment as reports described continued clashes and some troops and allied Darfuri militias retreating into residential areas. An aid official called the situation “extremely fluid,” citing heavy fighting in the city’s south and west. Thousands of civilians were fleeing; online video showed a long column trudging through dust as R.S.F. vehicles passed, while other clips carried the crack of gunfire and explosions.

Prepared by Lauren Mitchell and reviewed by editorial team.