Chad government troops attack Habre rebels

December 11, 1980

Chad government troops, supported by 2,000 soldiers, 50 Soviet-built tanks, and 14 aircraft from Libya, attacked rebel forces of Hissein Habre in chad's capital, N'Djamena, Habre headquarters said. Radio Chad said the rebel forces holding two-thirds of the city repulsed the attack of President Goukhouni Woddei's troops, aided by Libyan "mercenaries." The Woddei faction in chad's civil war made no immediate comment on the report from Radio Chad, which is run by Habre.

In Cameroon, observers near the Chad frontier said some shells had fallen in the Chad refugee camp in Kousseri. The observers said they could hear "violent" fighting across the Chari River near N'Djamena.