South Sudan’s army has recaptured the key town of Nasir in Upper Nile state from the White Army militia, a spokesperson said on Monday.
The town was lost to the militia in March, sparking clashes that led to the arrest of First Vice President Riek Machar.
The army said it recaptured Nasir on Sunday without a fight, while the White Army spokesperson claimed 17 people were killed in heavy bombardment of a nearby village.
The military attributed their success to close air support, which allowed them to avoid an ambush.
The recapture comes amid heightened tensions in South Sudan, with Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni visiting President Salva Kiir earlier this month and deploying troops to secure the capital Juba.
Machar’s detention has sparked international fears of renewed conflict along ethnic lines.
