Chad has threatened retaliation after a deadly drone strike launched from Sudanese territory hit the border region of Al-Tina, killing civilians and sharply escalating tensions along the fragile frontier.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Déby convened an emergency security meeting following the attack, warning that the strike constituted “a matter of national security that cannot be tolerated” and vowing that Chad would not remain passive in the face of continued cross-border aggression.
Déby ordered the immediate deployment of additional military forces to the Sudan border, instructing troops to respond decisively to any further attacks. Senior ministers, including those responsible for defense and security, were dispatched to the site to assess the damage and oversee the response.
Authorities in N’Djamena said the strike reflects a growing pattern of spillover violence from Sudan’s ongoing war, despite Chad’s positioning as a regional mediator.
Chadian officials have increasingly warned that both sides in the Sudan conflict are effectively exporting instability across the border, with deeply rooted tribal and social ties further complicating the security landscape.
The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) condemned the attack and accused General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s forces (SAF) of carrying out the drone strike in what it described as a “blatant violation” of Chadian sovereignty. The RSF also expressed solidarity with Chad.
The incident marks the latest in a series of cross-border escalations tied to the war between the RSF and SAF-aligned forces, raising fears of a broader regional destabilization.
Chad has repeatedly warned that continued violations along its eastern border risk dragging the country deeper into Sudan’s conflict.
