On 31 May 2025, fighting erupted at around 9:00 a.m. at the SPLA-IO’s Garia base, located near the northern border with Sudan’s West Kordofan State, and was still ongoing The assault was launched from two fronts: SSPDF forces advanced from the east via Pan Akuach, south of the Sudanese oil hub Heglig, while RSF units attacked from Suq al-Qaria in Mujlad locality, situated to the north of Garia, targeting base houses of the SPLA-IO armory brigade under the group’s 4A Infantry Division of northern Unity State.