By Our Correspondent

National News – A deadly drone strike linked to the ongoing conflict in Sudan has killed at least 17 people in the border town of Tine in eastern Chad, according to Chadian authorities.

The attack, which occurred late Wednesday, is the latest spillover from the civil war raging in Sudan since April 2023.

Officials confirmed that several others were injured in the explosion, raising fears that the conflict could further destabilize the fragile border region between the two countries.

The Chadian government described the incident as a grave escalation, noting that the drone attack targeted civilians in the town located near Sudan’s volatile Darfur region.

Authorities said the strike was launched from Sudanese territory despite repeated warnings issued to parties involved in the conflict to avoid cross-border aggression.

Government spokesman confirmed that the latest assault caused the deaths of 17 Chadian citizens and left several others wounded.

Security officials had earlier reported a lower death toll, but updated figures revealed the devastating impact of the strike on the small desert settlement.

The conflict in Sudan pits the national army against the paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces.

The paramilitary group has been accused of carrying out multiple operations close to Chad’s eastern border, though it denied responsibility for the drone attack.

In a statement posted on social media, the group instead blamed the Sudanese military for the incident.

The situation has heightened tensions in the region. Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby reportedly convened an emergency meeting of the country’s defence and security council shortly after the attack.

He ordered the Chadian armed forces to retaliate against any aggression originating from Sudan.

Tine lies along a long and porous desert border separating Chad and Sudan, making it difficult for authorities to fully secure the area.

The region has already experienced repeated incidents linked to the Sudanese conflict.

Earlier attacks and rocket strikes near the border had reportedly killed soldiers and civilians in recent months.

The civil war in Sudan has become one of the world’s most devastating humanitarian crises.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed, while more than 12 million have been displaced.

Nearly one million refugees have fled into neighbouring Chad, placing immense pressure on local communities and humanitarian resources.