Egypt has confirmed that a group of its soldiers has been captured in Sudan as the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has said it would cooperate in returning them.

The RSF, now embroiled in deadly armed conflict with the country’s army for a second day, on Saturday afternoon released a video showing Egyptian troops that it said had “surrendered” themselves in Merowe, located between the Sudanese capital Khartoum and the border with Egypt.

Numerous reports have been circulating about the Egyptian military’s presence at the Marawi Airport, which served for joint military exercises for the two armies.

The RSF explained that they deployed its troops in Merowe to prevent the Egyptian armed forces from holding the airport and eventually striking its forces.