Sudan has been at war since last April. The Rapid Support Forces (rsf), led by Mohammed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo, have been winning against the Sudanese Armed Forces (saf), led by Abdel-Fattah al-Burhan.

But now the tide is turning, which could majorly affect the entire Middle East.

Iran

Last October, Iran and the saf restored diplomatic relations after a seven-year hiatus. Tehran’s support became obvious in January, when senior Western officials claimed Iran was supplying the saf with artillery, ground control stations and drones—including the Mohajer-6 air-to-surface attack drone, one of Iran’s most valuable military exports.

An October report by the Conflict Observatory, a research association funded by the United States government, found that Iran sent at least nine cargo flights to Sudan from December to July. The researchers were “nearly certain” these planes transported weapons for several reasons:

1. Footage showed Iranian weapons in Sudan after these flights started arriving.
2. Some of the planes stopped at Bandar Abbas, a key Iranian drone and naval site, then took a long route around Saudi Arabia, Iran’s enemy, before reaching Sudan.
3. Some of the planes turned off their ads-b transmitters before landing, a tactic often used to hide military activity.
4. Four flights landed in the military section of Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport.
5. The plane used—the ep-fab—has a history of transporting weapons.
6. An saf offensive began in January, right after these weapons theoretically started arriving.

In addition, reports emerged that Iran was backing radical Sudanese groups aligned with the saf. Iran’s aid didn’t seem to affect the war much at first, but outside factors have increased the saf’s chances of winning.

The RSF’s Growing Disadvantages

In past few months, the rsf has lost allies. Russia was a significant aid to the rsf for a long time, but in June, the saf offered Moscow an offer it couldn’t refuse: a Red Sea naval base in exchange for weapons. Russia switched sides and perhaps favors the saf more than it ever did the rsf.

In Sudan, more militias are fighting the rsf. In April, the Joint Force of Armed Struggle Movements, a coalition of various armed groups, declared war on the rsf. A month later, National Movement for Justice and Development soldiers, an Eritrea-backed militia, also took up arms against Hemedti. On October 20, Abuagla Keikal, the rsf’s former top commander in the Jazira state, defected to the saf. Eight days later, the Eastern Corps, another Eritrea-backed militia, announced its deployment against the rsf.

Finally, the rsf continues to worsen its relationship with arguably its worst enemy: the Sudanese people. The rsf funds recruitment by allowing soldiers to loot the cities they take. Stories of brutal rsf attacks on civilians emerge constantly. The Sudanese people hate the rsf and see Burhan as the more legitimate leader. Jonas Horner, an independent expert on Sudan, predicted in January that the rsf could not sustain the vast territory it controlled. He said, “[The rsf’s] atrocities and their hard-core cruelty … is probably their single biggest obstacle and makes the prospect of them governing the country more difficult.” Meanwhile, the saf has seen a major swell in recruitment numbers over the past few months.

The SAF’s Offensive

The saf is gaining territory for the first time. It began an offensive in October that is still succeeding today. The rsf is under pressure on multiple fronts.

The saf is seeing success in Sudan’s larger cities. In Sudan’s capital Khartoum, Burhan is successfully freeing besieged troops. He took three strategic bridges in the area on September 26 and is continuing to push. The rsf is on the defensive for the first time in this city.

On December 2, the saf launched a multi-pronged attack on Wad Madani, Sudan’s second-largest city. The rsf took the city about a year ago, but the saf now has the advantages of high morale and greater numbers due to its recent rise in recruitment and the damage local militias have inflicted on the rsf. It will be difficult for Hemedti to send reinforcements to Wad Madani because the city is hundreds of miles away from the Darfur—the rsf’s primary region of support—and rsf forces are needed in Khartoum and the Darfur.

In the south, after months of back-and-forth, the saf and Joint Force began pushing through the Sennar state in late October. It recently retook the Sennar’s capital of Sinja. Though the rsf previously held the city for five months, some eyewitnesses said the saf took the city without much fighting (though there was likely fierce fighting in certain areas). This was a significant victory. It was the first capital city retaken from the rsf. Hemedti will now find it difficult to support his soldiers in the state. The saf is also gaining in the west, stopping rsf attempts to encircle Al Fashir, the capital of North Darfur.

Sudan’s Future

Bible prophecy reveals the fate of modern nations. The book of Daniel contains a prophecy concerning Africa for “the time of the end” (Daniel 12:4, 9). (For proof that we are living in this prophesied time, read Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry’s free booklet Nuclear Armageddon Is ‘At the Door.’)

Daniel 11:40 warns of a coming clash between “the king of the south” and “the king of the north.” Our free booklet History and Prophecy of the Middle East shows how the king of the south is radical Islam led by Iran and the king of the north is a reincarnation of Europe’s Holy Roman Empire.

This scripture prophesies that Iran will “push” at Europe, sparking this clash. There will likely be several facets to this push; one will likely revolve around the Red Sea. Multiple commentators recognize that Iran seeks to control the Red Sea. If it achieves this goal, Tehran will have full control over Europe’s tap of Middle Eastern oil. The Houthis’ recent attacks on Red Sea shipping show this.

Europe knows this and is indirectly fighting with Iran in Africa to cap Tehran’s influence. The war in Sudan could become (or may already be) another indirect battleground between Iran and Europe. Sudan’s location on the Red Sea could be strategically valuable for both sides.

The Bible reveals that Iran will control the Red Sea, bringing Egypt and Ethiopia (including surrounding states Djibouti, Eritrea and Somalia) under its influence. We don’t know what side Sudan will be on, but it could make sense to align with Iran alongside Egypt and Ethiopia.

Historically, once Iran’s influence is entrenched somewhere, it’s there to stay. The saf’s victories could be the beginning of an Iranian takeover of Sudan.

But there’s also a chance the rsf (which aligns more with Europe) could win the war and join the European camp. Perhaps Sudan’s people will forcefully reject both the rsf and saf, welcoming a Western power to set up its own influence.

Regardless of where Sudan ends up, these events show the military reach Iran is prophesied to have. We can be certain that events in Africa and the Middle East will unfold exactly as the Bible says they will.

To learn more about Iran’s prophesied influence, read Mr. Flurry’s free booklet The King of the South.