Airstrike kills at least 21 in South Sudan amid escalating conflict

An airstrike by South Sudan's air force on Nasir killed at least 19 people, raising fears of a resurgence of the civil war that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives between 2013 and 2018. The attack occurred shortly after government forces withdrew from the area amid ongoing clashes with the White Army, a militia primarily composed of ethnic Nuer youths. The government accuses First Vice President Riek Machar's party of colluding with the White Army, which Machar's party denies. Local officials reported that many victims were burned to death, with additional casualties expected as the situation remains volatile. The attack has intensified tensions in Nasir, which is strategically located near the Ethiopian border. In response to the escalating violence, Uganda has deployed special forces to South Sudan to support the government amid rising instability.