DR Congo rebels seize tanks and Su-25s
The '23 March Movement' rebels seized a Su-25 attack aircraft, armoured vehicles and artillery, including a Ukrainian Bastion multiple rocket launcher.
Here's What We Know
The footage of the trophy equipment was published by reporters of the Rwandan edition of RBA Digital, who got to the rebel-held city of Goma. On 30 January, the militants drove government forces out of the city, taking control of key positions and the Mpuzamanga airport, where DR Congo's troops and combat aircraft were based.
The biggest trophy was a Su-25 attack aircraft. Earlier, six of these aircraft were supplied by Russia and two more by Ukraine. The rebels also captured armoured vehicles, including BATT UMG armoured vehicles, T-55 tanks and off-road vehicles. The artillery included M-30 and D-30 howitzers, as well as a Bastion multiple rocket launcher system on a KrAZ chassis manufactured by the Shepetivka Repair Plant.
The operation to capture Goma lasted three days, and the militants were confronted by the Hibu special forces and the Congolese Guard. There are reports of 480 prisoners.
The military escalation in the region began after militants took control of the village of Sake on 27 April, blocking one of the key routes to Goma. On the first day of the city's encirclement, six South African peacekeepers were killed and their armoured vehicle was burned. UN officials reported the deaths of 13 peacekeeping troops in the DR Congo.
Source: RBA Digital
