Rebels seized the airport of east Congo's largest city Goma on Tuesday, potentially cutting off the main route for aid to reach hundreds of thousands of displaced people, after capturing the city in an offensive that left dead bodies lying in the streets.

Defence Minister Angie Motshekga visited the SANDF members in DRC, before nine South African soldiers were killed in fierce battle.

In the last 48 hours, two U.N. peacekeepers from South Africa and one from Uruguay were killed and 11 peacekeepers were injured and hospitalized.

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and his Rwandan counterpart Paul Kagame have discussed the possibility of a ceasefire agreement in DR Congo amidst the ongoing conflict between the Congolese force and the M23 rebel group.

M23 rebels fighting the Congolese army in eastern Congo are using advanced weapons and equipment similar to those used by the Israeli army and US special forces, a retired South African army general said Tuesday.

Congo has called on international powers to pressure Rwanda, potentially via sanctions, to end the M23 offensive

The rebels, which Rwanda denies supporting, have long been funded at least in part by the illicit mineral trade.

In the capital, Kinshasa, protesters complaining of a lack of international action attacked foreign embassies, including those of the U.S., France and Rwanda.

Clashes in Goma escalate as M23 militia and Congolese forces battle. Protests in Kinshasa target embassies, calling for global action.

M23 rebels claim they now control the Congolese city of Goma—an act Congo's government described as a 'declaration of war.'

An armed group backed by Rwandan troops took control of the airport in the besieged DR Congo city of Goma on Tuesday, a security source said, dealing a major blow to Congolese forces and putting the regional capital on the brink of falling .