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Drone Attack from Sudan Kills 17 in Chad, Government Vows Retaliation
A drone strike from Sudan killed 17 people in Chad’s Tine town, including mourners and children. Chad vows retaliation and strengthens border security.
ND
by News Desk
2026-03-19
Drone Attack from Sudan Kills 17 in Chad, Government Vows Retaliation

Chad suffered a deadly drone attack launched from Sudan on Wednesday, killing 17 people in the border town of Tine, according to the Chadian government. Among the casualties were mourners attending a funeral and children playing nearby.

A government spokesperson confirmed the death toll on Thursday and emphasized that Chad would retaliate against any further attacks. President Mahamat Idriss Deby convened the defence and security council, ordering the army to respond “starting from tonight to any attack coming from Sudan.” Security along the eastern border has been strengthened, with the possibility of cross-border operations being considered.

The exact perpetrators of the strike remain unclear. Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) denied involvement, attributing the attack to Sudan’s regular army. The region’s nearly 1,400 km-long desert border is porous and difficult to control, complicating security efforts.

The attack occurs amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan between the military and the RSF, which began in April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands and displaced over 12 million people, nearly one million of whom have fled into Chad. Both sides have increasingly relied on drones as a key weapon, with Iran, Turkey, and Russia reported to have supplied military support to Sudan’s army, while the RSF allegedly receives assistance via transit routes through neighboring countries.

The region has witnessed multiple civilian casualties from drone strikes. In the first two months of 2026 alone, 198 strikes by both sides resulted in at least 52 civilian deaths, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data project.

Chad’s government had previously closed its eastern border to prevent the conflict from spilling over after clashes last month killed five Chadian soldiers. The Tine attack highlights ongoing regional instability and the humanitarian risks posed by modern warfare technologies like drones.
Tagged:

sudan

DroneAttack

CivilWar

Chad
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