An airstrike struck the town of Nasir in South Sudan’s Upper Nile State late on Sunday, resulting in at least 19 fatalities, according to local officials and residents. The attack caused civilian casualties and fires, escalating tensions between forces loyal to President Salva Kiir and rival groups aligned with First Vice President Riek Machar.
Medecins Sans Frontieres reported that its hospital in nearby Ulang received three wounded patients from Nasir on Monday morning. “Two of them were declared dead on arrival due to the severe burns they had sustained,” the organization stated.
This incident follows recent clashes in the region, including an attack on a UN helicopter evacuating South Sudanese soldiers from Nasir, which resulted in the deaths of a South Sudanese general and approximately 27 troops. The escalating violence raises concerns about the stability of the fragile peace established after the 2018 agreement that ended a five-year civil war. 
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, urging all parties to exercise restraint and engage in dialogue to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of civilians.
