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| Boko Haram unrest: Cameroon air strikes on Nigerian militants | Boko Haram unrest: Cameroon air strikes on Nigerian militants |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Cameroon has carried out its first air strikes against militant Islamist group Boko Haram, after it overran a military base and attacked five villages, officials have said. | |
| The military repelled the coordinated attacks and regained control of the base, they added. | The military repelled the coordinated attacks and regained control of the base, they added. |
| At least 41 militants and one soldier were killed, the officials said. | |
| The Nigeria-based group is increasingly carrying out cross-border raids, threatening Cameroon's security. | The Nigeria-based group is increasingly carrying out cross-border raids, threatening Cameroon's security. |
| The latest fighting was the most intense, lasting for three days along several fronts, reports the BBC's Jean-David Mihamle from Cameroon's capital Yaounde. | The latest fighting was the most intense, lasting for three days along several fronts, reports the BBC's Jean-David Mihamle from Cameroon's capital Yaounde. |
| 'New escalation' | 'New escalation' |
| About 1,000 militants attacked five villages, including Amchide, and seized the nearby Achigachia military base, army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Didier Badjeck told Reuters news agency. | About 1,000 militants attacked five villages, including Amchide, and seized the nearby Achigachia military base, army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Didier Badjeck told Reuters news agency. |
| "After that, the head of state ordered the air force to carry out strikes. With the bombardment, the fighters were forced to decamp from Achigachia," he said. | "After that, the head of state ordered the air force to carry out strikes. With the bombardment, the fighters were forced to decamp from Achigachia," he said. |
| Cameroon under pressure from Boko Haram | Cameroon under pressure from Boko Haram |
| In a statement, Cameroon's Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said the multiple attacks showed that Boko Haram had adopted a new strategy aimed at "distracting Cameroonian troops on different fronts, making them more vulnerable in the face of the mobility and unpredictability of their attacks". | In a statement, Cameroon's Information Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary said the multiple attacks showed that Boko Haram had adopted a new strategy aimed at "distracting Cameroonian troops on different fronts, making them more vulnerable in the face of the mobility and unpredictability of their attacks". |
| At least 34 militants were killed after the army raided one of their bases in Cameroon, while another seven were killed in a separate clash which also claimed the life of a soldier, Mr Bakary said, Reuters reports. | At least 34 militants were killed after the army raided one of their bases in Cameroon, while another seven were killed in a separate clash which also claimed the life of a soldier, Mr Bakary said, Reuters reports. |
| The air strikes marked "a new escalation in the Cameroonian response... to multiple enemy attacks", he added, AFP news agency reports. | The air strikes marked "a new escalation in the Cameroonian response... to multiple enemy attacks", he added, AFP news agency reports. |
| Last week, Cameroon said it had dismantled a Boko Haram training camp on its territory, and had seized 84 children who were being trained there. | Last week, Cameroon said it had dismantled a Boko Haram training camp on its territory, and had seized 84 children who were being trained there. |
| More than 40 of its soldiers have been killed in fighting with Boko Haram this year, according to Reuters. | More than 40 of its soldiers have been killed in fighting with Boko Haram this year, according to Reuters. |
| Boko Haram launched its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria in 2009, saying it wanted to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. | Boko Haram launched its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria in 2009, saying it wanted to overthrow the government and create an Islamic state. |
| It recruits mainly unemployed youth and has seized large swathes of territory in Borno state, raising fears that it could launch an assault on its main city, Maiduguri. | It recruits mainly unemployed youth and has seized large swathes of territory in Borno state, raising fears that it could launch an assault on its main city, Maiduguri. |
| At least 2,000 civilians have been killed by the group in Nigeria this year. | At least 2,000 civilians have been killed by the group in Nigeria this year. |
| The kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in April from the town of Chibok in Borno state sparked international outrage. | The kidnapping of more than 200 schoolgirls by Boko Haram in April from the town of Chibok in Borno state sparked international outrage. |
| Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
| Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
| Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau | Profile: Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau |