Heavy combat has flared between Congolese government forces and the Rwanda-backed M23 militia across the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
This surge in territorial violence directly complicates an escalating Ebola epidemic that has triggered an international health alert by the WHO.
The volatile Masisi region within the North Kivu province has served as the primary battleground for the recent heavy clashes.
The deadly disease has already claimed 204 lives, with nearly 900 suspected cases reported primarily in the neighboring Ituri province.
On Monday, North Kivu authorities reported that insurgent mortar fire targeted a strategic military airport located in nearby Kisangani.
Ground forces successfully intercepted two hostile drones over the airport, preventing any immediate structural damage or casualties at the base.
The strategic airfield remains a primary target for the M23 militia due to its use by Kinshasa’s military aircraft.
Recent days have seen a cascade of unconfirmed airstrikes across both North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, panicking local populations.
More than three decades of unrelenting militia violence continue to scar this mineral-rich region, trapping vulnerable civilians in the crossfire.
Health workers warn that the relentless artillery fire severely hinders medical teams trying to contain the spreading biological threat.