TRIPOLI, 16 September 2021, (TON): The Libyan National Army (LNA) of eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar clashed with Chadian rebel forces in the south of Libya on Tuesday and Wednesday, both sides said.

The fighting underscores the risk of further instability in the Sahel region, where an array of groups operate across borders and where fighting has created space for rebel organizations.

Statements from the LNA, which holds most of eastern and southern Libya, said “it was engaged in military operations against what it called terrorist groups and the Chadian opposition.”

The rebel group Front for Change and Concord in Chad (FACT) said via social media that its positions on the frontier had been attacked by Haftar’s forces, fighting alongside what it said were Sudanese mercenaries and French troops.

The LNA said “it had carried out air strikes and was conducting aerial patrols. FACT said French air strikes had hit its positions.”

The French army said “it had no forces on the ground or in the air in that area.”

Researcher said “FACT had been based in Libya and fought alongside the LNA during periods of Libya’s civil war, receiving heavy arms from Haftar.”