Heavy fighting erupted in Leer County, when government troops launched an offensive against rebel forces today morning, the rebels said. The government acknowledged fighting with the opposition today morning.
Rebel spokesman in Unity state James Yoach told Radio Tamazuj that the government forces attacked their positions at Pawiny and Kaigai areas in Leer County of Southern Liech state, but they were repulsed.
He claimed that they killed 10 government soldiers during clashes. Yoach also admitted that two soldiers were killed from their side.
“Government troops had been bombing areas around Leer town since yesterday. The government forces also attacked our positions in various areas in Mayendit yesterday, but we managed to repulse the attacks,” he said.
Wuol Yach Gatkuoth, a security adviser for the government of Southern Liech, also said they were engaged in fighting with rebel forces in the town of Leer today morning.
Instead, he accused the rebels of attacking their defensive positions in Leer. However, he said the attackers repulsed.
The security official claimed that 16 rebel soldiers and one government soldier were killed during today’s fighting. He pointed out that the clashes forced civilians to flee to the UN protection site in the town of Leer.
Leer is the birthplace of SPLA-IO leader Riek Machar.