Sudanese drones entered Chad

Chad declared that Sudanese drones and aircraft had carried out several airstrikes deep inside Chadian territory. The Chadian army condemned the renewed violation. Sudanese forces crossed the border into Chad in the early morning hours. Convoys of heavy vehicles rolled through the dusty savanna, past withered acacia trees and deserted villages. Khartoum officially describes it as an "anti-terrorist operation against armed groups," but evidence in the region is mounting that this is a deliberate escalation. In Chad, the government reacted with immediate mobilization. President Mahamat Déby convened the National Security Council and threatened a "decisive response." The army deployed units to the eastern border strip, where initial clashes have already been reported. Eyewitnesses report seeing smoke rising from the Tina border post, which has been a hub for smuggling and militia activity for years. The international community is alarmed. The African Union called for an immediate ceasefire, while France and the US urged restraint. But behind the diplomatic notes lies a complex web of old alliances, resource conflicts, and the struggle for dominance in the Lake Chad basin. Both countries have been grappling with internal unrest for decades, and the border is porous. The next few hours will determine whether this remains a limited incursion or becomes the start of a regional conflagration. In the villages on both sides of the border, people are packing their belongings. The sandstorm carries the smell of burning, and rumors of a new offensive grow with each sunrise.