The Sudanese army and rival paramilitaries traded blame on Thursday over targeting a major oil refinery north of the capital Khartoum, where clashes between the warring sides have intensified.

Arab League Secretary General Ahmed Aboul Gheit has condemned the attack on the Saudi hospital in El Fasher, Sudan, which claimed the lives of innocent civilians, describing it as a blatant violation of international and humanitarian law.

Fighting around Sudan‘s largest oil refinery set the sprawling complex ablaze, satellite data analyzed by The Associated Press (AP) yesterday showed, sending thick and black polluted smoke over the country’s capital.

The Sudanese army broke a paramilitary siege on one of its key Khartoum-area bases on Friday, paving the way to also freeing the besieged military headquarters, a military source said.

The Sudanese army said Saturday that it gained full control of the al-Jaili oil refinery north of the capital Khartoum. The army made the announcement in a brief statement, without providing any further details.