At least 11 Chadian soldiers and 17 Boko Haram militants have been killed Tuesday morning following clashes between the Nigerian armed group and the Chadian army, security sources told Anadolu Agency.
"Boko Haram militants attacked the Chadian army in the town of Kaiga Ngouboua near Lake Chad close to the Nigerian border," the sources said, adding that the number of victims could rise since search operations were still ongoing.
The military source who requested anonymity added that several soldiers were also wounded in the clashes.
Tuesday's attack is considered the deadliest perpetrated by the Nigerian armed group in Chad.
Last June, the Chadian capital, N'Djamena suffered a twin suicide attack on security facilities that killed 17 people, according to government officials.
Chad is part of the Lake Chad Basin Commission -- which includes Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon and Benin -- that has agreed to bring the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF)'s total troop strength up to some 10,500 in response to the Boko Haram threat.
Boko Haram, which has reportedly pledged allegiance to the Daesh militant group and now wants to be called the "Islamic State in West Africa Province" is known to have conducted several cross-border attacks in Niger, Chad and Cameroon in recent months. - Çad
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