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Chad 'bombs Boko Haram bases in Nigeria' | |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Chad's military says it has carried out airstrikes in neighbouring Nigeria on suspected positions of militant Islamist group Boko Haram. | Chad's military says it has carried out airstrikes in neighbouring Nigeria on suspected positions of militant Islamist group Boko Haram. |
The strikes were in response to the "cowardly and barbaric" bombing of Chad's capital, N'Djamena, on Monday, it added in a statement. | The strikes were in response to the "cowardly and barbaric" bombing of Chad's capital, N'Djamena, on Monday, it added in a statement. |
The group suffered heavy casualties and six of its bases were destroyed, the military said. | The group suffered heavy casualties and six of its bases were destroyed, the military said. |
However, Nigeria's military has said the strikes were not on its territory. | |
In a statement, it said it had identified the targets but the raids probably hit Niger. | |
"The territory of Nigeria has not been violated," it said. | |
Both Chad and Niger have been helping Nigeria fight Boko Haram in recent months. | |
The BBC's Nathalie Magnien in N'Djamena says Chad has carried out airstrikes in Nigeria before, when it entered the conflict in January. | The BBC's Nathalie Magnien in N'Djamena says Chad has carried out airstrikes in Nigeria before, when it entered the conflict in January. |
However, the strikes are the first since Monday's twin blasts which killed more than 20 people and wounded more than 100, she adds. | However, the strikes are the first since Monday's twin blasts which killed more than 20 people and wounded more than 100, she adds. |
'Merciless' | 'Merciless' |
The attacks on the police headquarters and a police academy in N'Djamena were the first in the city, blamed on Boko Haram. | The attacks on the police headquarters and a police academy in N'Djamena were the first in the city, blamed on Boko Haram. |
The group has not commented, but it had previously vowed to attack Chad because of its military support for Nigeria. | The group has not commented, but it had previously vowed to attack Chad because of its military support for Nigeria. |
Chad will continue its "merciless" pursuit of the militants "so that no drop of Chadian blood spilt goes unpunished," the military said. | Chad will continue its "merciless" pursuit of the militants "so that no drop of Chadian blood spilt goes unpunished," the military said. |
It did not mention where the raids took place. | |
Chad is to host a new regional force being set up to tackle Boko Haram. | Chad is to host a new regional force being set up to tackle Boko Haram. |
It believes the group threatens the stability of the entire region. | It believes the group threatens the stability of the entire region. |
Africa news updates | Africa news updates |
Why Boko Haram remains a threat | Why Boko Haram remains a threat |
Who are Boko Haram? | Who are Boko Haram? |
Boko Haram is allied with Islamic State (IS), which is fighting for a global caliphate. | Boko Haram is allied with Islamic State (IS), which is fighting for a global caliphate. |
It launched its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria's Borno state in 2009. | It launched its insurgency in north-eastern Nigeria's Borno state in 2009. |
The insurgency then spread to other parts of Nigeria, and neighbouring countries. | The insurgency then spread to other parts of Nigeria, and neighbouring countries. |
Chadian troops have played a key role in helping Nigerian forces recapture territory from Boko Haram, especially in its Borno heartland. | Chadian troops have played a key role in helping Nigerian forces recapture territory from Boko Haram, especially in its Borno heartland. |
On Tuesday, Chad banned people from wearing the full-face Islamic veil, saying militants used it as a "camouflage" to carry out Monday's attacks. | On Tuesday, Chad banned people from wearing the full-face Islamic veil, saying militants used it as a "camouflage" to carry out Monday's attacks. |