National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the White House. EPA
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the White House. EPA
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the White House. EPA
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby speaks during a briefing at the White House. EPA

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US considers evacuating American personnel from Sudan amid intense fighting

White House officials say President Joe Biden has yet to make final decision on flying Americans out of Khartoum

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A White House official on Thursday said the US was preparing to potentially evacuate American personnel from Sudan, though a final decision has not yet been made.

During a regular news briefing, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said US President Joe Biden has authorised the military “to move forward with pre-positioning forces and to develop options”.

“The Pentagon did announce that they are moving forward to position military forces and capabilities nearby just for contingency purposes in case they will be needed for a kind of evacuation,” Mr Kirby told reporters at the White House.

“But again, no decision has been made on that.”

The announcement comes amid intensified fighting that erupted last weekend between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. International efforts to reach a ceasefire have so far failed to take hold.

“There’s no indication that either side is deliberately going after or trying to hurt or target Americans,” Mr Kirby added.

Smoke billows above Khartoum's international airport amid fighting between the forces of two rival generals in Sudan. AFP
Smoke billows above Khartoum's international airport amid fighting between the forces of two rival generals in Sudan. AFP
People carry Othman Mohamed, a senior military officer loyal to army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
People carry Othman Mohamed, a senior military officer loyal to army chief Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
Residential buildings damaged in the fighting in Khartoum, Sudan. AP Photo
Residential buildings damaged in the fighting in Khartoum, Sudan. AP Photo
People cheer with Sudanese army soldiers manning a position in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
People cheer with Sudanese army soldiers manning a position in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
People queue for water in Khartoum. The fighting has resulted in food and water shortages. Reuters
People queue for water in Khartoum. The fighting has resulted in food and water shortages. Reuters
Black smoke covering the sky above the capital, Khartoum. AFP
Black smoke covering the sky above the capital, Khartoum. AFP
Vehicles destroyed during fighting in southern Khartoum. AFP
Vehicles destroyed during fighting in southern Khartoum. AFP
People head for the station to flee Khartoum during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army. Reuters
People head for the station to flee Khartoum during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army. Reuters
Smoke and fire rise from an apartment building, after a shell hit the complex in Khartoum. Reuters
Smoke and fire rise from an apartment building, after a shell hit the complex in Khartoum. Reuters
Heavy fighting has broken out across the country. AFP
Heavy fighting has broken out across the country. AFP
A building damaged by the fighting. EPA
A building damaged by the fighting. EPA
A destroyed vehicle of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in southern Khartoum. AFP
A destroyed vehicle of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces in southern Khartoum. AFP
A building damaged by the fighting. EPA
A building damaged by the fighting. EPA
People gather at a bus station to escape Khartoum. Reuters
People gather at a bus station to escape Khartoum. Reuters
People leave their homes amid the fighting. AFP
People leave their homes amid the fighting. AFP
People look for drinking water in Khartoum, Sudan. Faiz Abubakr for The National
People look for drinking water in Khartoum, Sudan. Faiz Abubakr for The National
A building burns at Merowe Airport in Sudan. AFP
A building burns at Merowe Airport in Sudan. AFP
A man holds two bullets that hit his home. Faiz Abubakr for The National
A man holds two bullets that hit his home. Faiz Abubakr for The National
People gather for a meal to break their fast during Ramadan in Port Sudan. AFP
People gather for a meal to break their fast during Ramadan in Port Sudan. AFP
Satellite image shows a close-up view of destroyed helicopters in South Khartoum. Reuters
Satellite image shows a close-up view of destroyed helicopters in South Khartoum. Reuters
The Port Sudan branch of the Central Bank of Sudan. AFP
The Port Sudan branch of the Central Bank of Sudan. AFP
A hole from an explosion on the side of a building in Khartoum, after fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces led by rival generals. AFP
A hole from an explosion on the side of a building in Khartoum, after fighting between the Sudanese army and paramilitary forces led by rival generals. AFP
People queue for bread outside a bakery amid a food crisis in Khartoum. AFP
People queue for bread outside a bakery amid a food crisis in Khartoum. AFP
Smoke rises above Khartoum. Faiz Abubakr / The National
Smoke rises above Khartoum. Faiz Abubakr / The National
Fearful families try to shelter from the fighting in houses in Khartoum. Faiz Abubakr / The National
Fearful families try to shelter from the fighting in houses in Khartoum. Faiz Abubakr / The National
A deserted avenue in Khartoum as residents fear to go out due to intense fighting. AP
A deserted avenue in Khartoum as residents fear to go out due to intense fighting. AP
A Sudanese army tank in a street in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
A Sudanese army tank in a street in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
Houses have been severely damanged during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army. Reuters
Houses have been severely damanged during clashes between the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces and the army. Reuters
Satellite images show a destroyed Ukrainian plane at Khartoum International Airport. Reuters
Satellite images show a destroyed Ukrainian plane at Khartoum International Airport. Reuters
Market stalls abandoned in south Khartoum as fighting in the Sudanese capital rages for a third day. AFP
Market stalls abandoned in south Khartoum as fighting in the Sudanese capital rages for a third day. AFP
Smoke rises over buildings during clashes. Reuters
Smoke rises over buildings during clashes. Reuters
Damage at the Communications Authority Building. Reuters
Damage at the Communications Authority Building. Reuters
People queue for bread outside a bakery amid a food crisis. AFP
People queue for bread outside a bakery amid a food crisis. AFP
Destroyed fuel trucks at a depot in Khartoum. Reuters
Destroyed fuel trucks at a depot in Khartoum. Reuters
Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, at the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) base in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
Sudanese army soldiers, loyal to Gen Abdel Fattah Al Burhan, at the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) base in the Red Sea city of Port Sudan. AFP
Smoke rises from a fire on the tarmac of Khartoum International Airport in Sudan as fighting between the government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. Reuters
Smoke rises from a fire on the tarmac of Khartoum International Airport in Sudan as fighting between the government and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces continues. Reuters
Abdalla Hamdok, former prime minister of Sudan, addresses the current crisis and violence on the streets of his homeland at a news conference in Abu Dhabi. Reuters
Abdalla Hamdok, former prime minister of Sudan, addresses the current crisis and violence on the streets of his homeland at a news conference in Abu Dhabi. Reuters
Burning planes at Khartoum International Airport. EPA
Burning planes at Khartoum International Airport. EPA
Damage and a fire on the Kobar Bridge in Khartoum. AFP
Damage and a fire on the Kobar Bridge in Khartoum. AFP
Heavy smoke billows above Khartoum International Airport. AFP
Heavy smoke billows above Khartoum International Airport. AFP
Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum, as fighting in Sudan raged for a second day. AFP
Smoke billows above residential buildings in Khartoum, as fighting in Sudan raged for a second day. AFP
A military vehicle patrols the streets as the fighting continues. AFP
A military vehicle patrols the streets as the fighting continues. AFP
Smoke rises over the city. Reuters
Smoke rises over the city. Reuters
Thick smoke rises above buildings near the airport amid clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. AFP
Thick smoke rises above buildings near the airport amid clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. AFP
Explosions rock the Sudanese capital as paramilitary fighters and the regular army attack each other's bases. AFP
Explosions rock the Sudanese capital as paramilitary fighters and the regular army attack each other's bases. AFP
The fighting has raised fears of a wider conflict in the country. AP
The fighting has raised fears of a wider conflict in the country. AP
Government soldiers stationed on a key road in Khartoum. AFP
Government soldiers stationed on a key road in Khartoum. AFP
The fighting comes days after the army warned the country was at a 'dangerous' turning point. AP
The fighting comes days after the army warned the country was at a 'dangerous' turning point. AP
People walk past a military vehicle in Khartoum. AFP
People walk past a military vehicle in Khartoum. AFP

“But it’s obviously a dangerous situation.”

Any US efforts to evacuate personnel, however, is likely to be fraught with challenges, as Sudan's major airport is not operating and using major roads carries significant security risks.

“It is not safe to undertake a US government co-ordinated evacuation of private American citizens at this time,” said Vedant Patel, deputy spokesman for the US State Department.

“But we're continuing to monitor the situation closely.”

Washington issued a travel warning to US citizens on Thursday, advising them to “stay inside” and “shelter in place”.

“We have been very clear about the need for American citizens to remain indoors, to stay off the roads, to shelter in place and to avoid travelling to the US embassy at this time,” Mr Patel added.

He added that all US embassy staff were safe and accounted for.

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