Several hundred government backed Sudanese militiamen rode into Chad and twice clashed with  Chadian soldiers. In  the subsequent gun battles, sixty of the militiamen, a Chadian soldier and six Chadian civilians died. This is not the first time the Sudanese raiders have operated inside Chad, but usually the Sudanese Arabs go after Sudanese refugees who have fled to Chad. The raiders are after livestock and any valuables (cash, jewelry) the refugees might have taken with them.