Drone Strike from Sudan Kills 17 Civilians in Chad, Sparks Retaliation Threat

A drone attack from Sudan killed 17 civilians and injured several others in the border town of Tine in Chad. The strike, which hit mourners at a funeral and nearby children, has intensified tensions, with President Mahamat Idriss Deby ordering immediate retaliation. The incident highlights the growing spillover of Sudan’s civil war, involving the Rapid Support Forces, into Chad, where violence along the border has been increasing.

Government officials in Chad announced on Thursday that at least 17 people were killed and several others injured after a deadly drone attack struck the eastern town of Tine late Wednesday. Authorities said the drone originated from neighboring Sudan, heightening fears over the growing spillover of violence from Sudan’s ongoing civil war into Chadian territory.
Tine is located along Chad’s eastern border, directly adjacent to Sudan’s troubled Darfur region, an area that has been at the center of intense fighting and humanitarian crises for months. The proximity of the town to the conflict zone has made it increasingly vulnerable to cross-border attacks and instability.
A military spokesperson confirmed that all 17 people killed in the attack were civilians, emphasizing the tragic nature of the incident. Local eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and devastation, reporting that at least two explosions occurred. One of the blasts struck a group of mourners gathered for a funeral, while another hit children who were playing nearby, significantly increasing the number of casualties and injuries.
Following the attack, Mahamat Idriss Deby convened an emergency meeting with defense and security officials overnight to assess the situation. Shortly afterward, he issued a statement on social media declaring that he had ordered the Chadian military to respond decisively. He stated that Chad would begin retaliatory actions immediately against any attacks originating from Sudan, signaling a firm and potentially escalatory stance.
A government spokesperson reiterated that the attack occurred despite repeated warnings issued by Chad to the various armed groups involved in Sudan’s conflict, as well as the earlier closure of the border. The spokesperson described the latest drone strike as an act of “extreme gravity,” confirming the death toll and noting that several others were injured, some critically.
Chadian authorities also stated that security along the border has been significantly reinforced in recent months. They added that the country’s armed forces are capable of carrying out operations inside Sudanese territory if necessary to defend national sovereignty and prevent further attacks. This declaration reflects Chad’s increasing frustration with the persistent insecurity along its eastern frontier.
The incident is the latest in a series of violent spillovers from the war in Sudan, where the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in a brutal conflict with the Sudanese army since 2023. The fighting has devastated large parts of the country, particularly the Darfur region, and has created one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.
The RSF has reportedly taken control of nearly all of Darfur since October, including the strategic city of El Fasher. Operations carried out in the region have drawn international condemnation, with the United Nations describing some of the violence as bearing the “hallmarks of genocide.”
Despite the seriousness of Wednesday’s attack, local authorities in Chad said it remains unclear who was responsible for launching the drone. The RSF has denied any involvement, instead accusing the Sudanese military of carrying out the strike. The claim was made in a statement posted on Telegram, highlighting the ongoing blame game between the warring factions.
Cross-border military activities along the approximately 1,400-kilometer (870-mile) Chad-Sudan border have resulted in repeated casualties within Chadian territory in recent months. Prior to this latest incident, officials had already recorded the deaths of 15 soldiers and eight civilians in Tine since December, indicating a persistent pattern of violence affecting the area.
Tensions escalated further in February when RSF fighters claimed control of Tina, a sister city to Tine located just across the border in Darfur. The two towns are separated by a narrow, often dry riverbed, making movement between them relatively easy and increasing the risk of cross-border incursions.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, Chad closed its border with Sudan on February 23 in an effort to prevent the conflict from spreading further into its territory. However, the latest drone strike suggests that the border closure has not been sufficient to fully contain the threat.
The broader conflict in Sudan has had devastating consequences, with tens of thousands of civilians killed and more than 12 million people displaced from their homes. According to the United Nations, over one million of those fleeing the violence have sought refuge in Chad, placing significant pressure on the country’s humanitarian resources and infrastructure, particularly in already fragile border regions like Tine.