On 27 December 2018, Chadian irregulars launched a surprise attack on a camp of the Khalifa Haftar-loyal Libyan National Army's 10th Infantry Brigade in Traghan.[3] The militants who were described as being well-trained,[4] used 10 cars and one armored vehicle to initially overrun part of the camp, including its headquarters, where they killed the commander of the brigade's Battalion 181, Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Masoud Rahoma.[5] The assistant commander of the LNA garrison, Colonel Juma al-Thabet was wounded and captured by the irregulars.[4]