KHARTOUM, March 19 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's two warring factions traded blame Thursday over a drone strike that killed 17 civilians on the Chadian side of the border town of Al-Tina, as Chad vowed to pursue those responsible.

The Chadian government confirmed the attack occurred Wednesday and said the drone was launched from within Sudanese territory.

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) condemned what it called a drone attack on Al-Tina and blamed the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), calling it "a violation of Chad's sovereignty and a dangerous escalation."

The SAF denied involvement and said in a statement Thursday that an RSF drone had struck a gathering of civilians inside Chad, calling it part of a "repeated pattern" of cross-border attacks.

Chad's information minister and government spokesperson, Qassem Sharif, said the government had raised its military and security forces to a higher state of alert following the strike. He said Chad reserves the right to pursue those responsible inside Sudan under international law.

The strike comes as fighting between the SAF and RSF has intensified along the Sudanese-Chadian border, particularly in the Darfur region, where both sides have clashed over supply routes and border crossings.

The crossings between Sudan and Chad, including the Adre crossing, are vital commercial and humanitarian corridors for Darfur's population.

Chad closed its border with Sudan on Feb. 23 after armed groups crossed into its territory, allowing exceptions only for humanitarian purposes with prior authorization.

The SAF and RSF have been at war since April 2023. The conflict has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions inside Sudan and across the region. ■