Chadian soldiers have faced significant losses in the latest clash with militants in the Lake Chad region, authorities reported Sunday. President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno expressed his condolences to the families of the “fallen martyrs” in a post on Facebook, though further details were not disclosed.
The encounter follows a late October attack by Boko Haram on a Chadian military base that left at least 40 soldiers dead, prompting the military to launch an offensive against militant groups in the area.
According to the army’s chief of staff, the recent clash took place Saturday afternoon on Karia Island, where “numerous terrorist elements were neutralised” after hours of fighting, with a full toll to be confirmed later.
Military sources say the conflict involved high-ranking officers among the casualties, as Boko Haram and its offshoot, the Islamic State in West Africa (ISWAP), continue to use the vast, swampy islands in Lake Chad as bases for frequent assaults on Chad’s military and civilians.
Boko Haram, active since 2009, has spread across borders, leaving over 40,000 dead and displacing millions in the region.