Tragedy struck in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, as seventeen individuals, including five children, lost their lives in an airstrike, according to officials.

The devastating attack occurred in the densely populated Yarmouk district, where twenty-five homes were destroyed on Saturday.

This deadly incident took place just a day after a high-ranking army general issued a threat to escalate attacks against the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

The conflict between the Sudanese army and the RSF erupted in mid-April due to a fierce power struggle within the country's military leadership.

By early June, the RSF declared its complete control over Yarmouk, an area in the capital known for housing an arms manufacturing facility. However, the situation escalated further on Saturday with the tragic airstrike.

In an effort to mitigate the violence, the warring factions reached an agreement mediated by Saudi and US representatives. The agreement stipulated a 72-hour ceasefire set to commence on Sunday at 06:00 local time (04:00 GMT).

It is important to note that similar ceasefires in the past have not been effectively observed.

Precise figures on the number of people killed in the fighting are difficult to establish, but it is believed to be well over 1,000, including many civilians caught in the crossfire.

Roughly 2.2 million people have been displaced within the country and more than half a million are sheltering in neighbouring countries, according to the UN.

Several ceasefires have been announced to allow people to escape the fighting but these have not been observed.

The recent attack targeted civilians in Mayo, Yarmouk, and Mandela areas, according to the RSF. The army has not commented.

Since the hostilities began, tens of thousands of civilians have fled across the border into neighbouring Chad.

Doctors and hospitals there have been overstretched and struggling to cope.

The violence has also resurrected a two-decade-old conflict in Sudan's western Darfur region.