Chad declared three days of national mourning after a new attack by Boko Haram jihadists on Wednesday resulted in the deaths of two generals.

The incident occurred when security and defense force boats patrolling Lake Chad were ambushed by Boko Haram fighters.

According to an officer from the General Staff, at least 24 soldiers lost their lives in an initial attack on a military base on Monday evening.

The Chadian government issued a statement declaring national mourning from Wednesday, May 6, at midnight until Saturday, May 9, at midnight.

During this period, flags will be flown at half-mast and all festive activities are banned throughout the country.

President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno vowed to continue fighting with renewed determination.

The Lake Chad region, which borders Nigeria, Cameroon, Niger, and Chad, has become a stronghold for Boko Haram and its rival group, the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), since 2009.

In recent months, there has been an increase in attacks by various factions of Boko Haram, including kidnappings and assaults on security positions.

Chadian soldiers are frequently targeted in this region due to the ongoing presence of Boko Haram.

The Chadian army launched Operation Haskanite in response to these attacks with the aim of destroying Boko Haram's capacity to cause harm.

By February 2025, it was asserted that the jihadist group no longer had a sanctuary on Chadian territory.