 Habré selected as the first target for his reconquest of northern Chad the well @-@ fortified Libyan communications base of Fada . It was defended by 2 @,@ 000 Libyans and the bulk of the Democratic Revolutionary Council ( CDR ) militia ( Gaddafi 's closest Chadian allies ) , well @-@ provided with armour and artillery . Hassan Djamous , the thirty @-@ year @-@ old FANT commander @-@ in @-@ chief , pitched about 4 @,@ 000 – 5 @,@ 000 men against Fada 's Libyan garrison . Taking advantage of his army 's superior knowledge of the terrain , which apparently included unknown access points to the base , Djamous avoided a frontal assault and used his forces ' high mobility to surround the Libyan positions and then unleashed his troops , destroying the defending garrison . In the battle , 784 Libyans were killed and 100 tanks destroyed , while only 50 FANT soldiers died . 
