Chad accuses Sudan of airstrike on border, killing 12 people

The Chadian government has accused the Sudanese army of carrying out an airstrike on its border with Sudan on August 27 that killed at least 12 people, Al Jazeera reported.

A Chadian security official said the attack targeted a market supplying fuel to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). AFP reported that 12 people were killed and seven others were injured. Chad's accusation comes amid a three-year civil war between the Sudanese army and the RSF that has displaced millions of people.

Last week, Chad accused the Sudanese army of carrying out an airstrike on a military convoy on its territory. The Chadian army said the strikes took place in the eastern Ennedi region, more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the border. No Chadian soldiers were injured in the attack.

Chad has raised its combat readiness in the region to its highest level in response to the drone threat, a security source said. Reuters reported that the country had deployed about 100 armored personnel carriers and special equipment to jam radio communications near the town of Tine, near the Sudanese border.

On August 27, Sudan said it was shocked by the accusations against its army, without a professional and independent investigation into the circumstances of the incident.

Sudan's Foreign Ministry said its forces were fulfilling their constitutional duty to protect Sudan's sovereignty, security and peace, while respecting the sovereignty of its neighbors and not targeting their territory. The US embassy in Khartoum also accused the Sudanese army of the latest strikes on Chad and condemned the attacks.

The Sudanese army had previously accused Chad of siding with the TYK military group. Meanwhile, nearly a million Sudanese refugees, who fled their homes due to the war, have crossed into Chad, where they are currently facing water shortages.