SAF Captures Al-Bar, SPLM-N (Toka) Stronghold Near Ethiopian Border

SAF's 13th Infantry Brigade (4th Infantry Division) launched a clearing operation near the Ethiopian border in Blue Nile State, advancing past Abu Dugla and Ashambo to within roughly 1km of the border and seizing Al-Bar, a major outpost of the SPLM-N faction led by Joseph Toka (distinct from Abdel Aziz al-Hilu's faction), on June 23, 2026. The operation was framed by SAF as part of a broader push to retake Kurmuk, which fell to RSF/SPLM-N forces in March 2026.