Chadian President Mohamed Idriss Déby Itno has confirmed that several Chadian soldiers were killed and others wounded during intense clashes with Boko Haram militants on Saturday.
The confrontation occurred during “Operation Haskanit,” which Déby has been personally overseeing since its recent launch.
In a message shared on Facebook, Déby praised the “brave soldiers who fought heroically to eliminate the group of oppressors attempting to breach Chadian territory.”
Expressing condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers, Déby extended his “deepest sympathies” and wished a “swift recovery to the wounded.”
He emphasized that Operation Haskanit, involving land, sea, and air units, would continue until “every last remnant” of the attackers is eradicated.
The Chadian military released a statement on Saturday detailing that several Boko Haram fighters were killed in combat on the island of Karia, northwest of Kaigakendjiria, in the Lake Chad region.
The battle took place hours after President Déby departed the Barkram area, where Chadian military headquarters is based.
Local media outlets have reported the names of Chadian soldiers, including senior officers, who were reportedly killed or injured in the clashes.
The latest violence follows a deadly Boko Haram assault in late October on a military base in the Lake Chad area, which resulted in the deaths of around 40 soldiers.
In response, President Déby spearheaded a counter-offensive in the region for two weeks before returning to N’Djamena, the presidency announced on Sunday.
