Fighters loyal to South Sudan’s former Vice President turned rebel leader Riek Machar claimed taking control of Nhialdiu in Northern Liech State, their official deputy military spokesperson, Lam Paul Gabriel said Monday.
“The SPLA-IO forces under the command of Maj. Gen. John Turuk Khor, launched a successful operations against the Juba regime forces in Nhialdiu, Rubkona County, Unity State,” said Lam in a statement extended to Radio Tamazuj yesterday.
He claimed that they killed 19 government soldiers and wounded several others including Biel Matuel Commissioner of Nhialdiu.
Paul pointed out that they lost one soldier during clashes yesterday morning.
Dickson Gatluak, a spokesperson of the SPLM-IO faction in the Juba government confirmed the incident, but said the attackers were repulsed.
He accused the opposition fighters of allegedly targeting civilian properties, saying yesterday's attack disrupted a grassroots community dialogue that brought together community leaders and county commissioners of Budang, Nhialdiu and Pawel.