At least 15 Chadian soldiers were killed and 32 others injured during intense clashes with Boko Haram militants on Saturday, the army confirmed. In the same confrontation, 96 Boko Haram fighters were reported dead.
General Issakh Acheikh, spokesperson for the Chadian military, did not disclose the exact location or further details of the operation. However, he confirmed that in addition to the fatalities, 11 Boko Haram members were wounded, and military forces seized significant weaponry and equipment.
The army reassured the public that the situation was under control, with continued efforts underway to neutralize remaining insurgents as part of the ongoing Operation Haskanite. This mission is focused on expelling Boko Haram militants from the Lake Chad region, a hotbed of insurgent activity.
The Lake Chad area has been plagued by frequent attacks from armed groups, including Boko Haram, which originated in northeastern Nigeria and has since spread to surrounding regions, including Chad. The latest attack follows a deadly assault on a military base in the same region late last month, which claimed the lives of 40 Chadian soldiers. In response to the mounting toll, President Mahamat Idriss Deby threatened to withdraw Chad from a multinational security coalition combating extremist groups in the region.
Chad remains a critical partner for Western forces, particularly France and the United States, in their efforts to combat armed groups destabilizing the Sahel. Meanwhile, countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, which face similar security threats, have shifted their focus toward Russian support in their fight against insurgencies.
