4 Libyan MIGs Reportedly Bomb Chad Town South of French Line

N'DJAMENA, Chad — Four Soviet-made Libyan MIG jet fighters on Sunday bombed Arada, a town south of the line held by French forces since 1983 to prevent a Libyan-backed rebel advance, Chad radio announced.

In Paris, the Defense Ministry confirmed the raid but said it had no details. Chad radio did not report casualties or damage caused by the raid.

It called the bombing the response of “a wounded beast” attacking defenseless civilians after government successes against Libyan forces in northern Chad.

Chad said its forces killed 748 Libyan troops Friday in capturing the northeastern town of Fada. It said its troops destroyed or captured Libyan tanks, aircraft and other materiel.

French troops in 1983 set up an “interdiction line” dividing this former French colony along the 15th parallel, later moving the line north to the 16th parallel. The line was established to prevent Chadian rebels from advancing on N’Djamena, the capital, and overthrowing the government of President Hissen Habre.

Tribal forces loyal to former President Goukouni Oueddei hold much of the north. Until October, they were allied with Libya in a stalled effort to take power. They switched sides to oppose Libya after Goukouni was wounded in a confrontation with Libyan forces in Tripoli and was reportedly placed under house arrest in the Libyan capital.

A small rebel faction remains allied with Libya.