 In August 1987 , the encouraged Chadians carried their offensive into the disputed Aouzou Strip , occupying the town of Aouzou following another battle in which the Libyans suffered severe losses in troops and abandoned equipment . In retaliation , Libya intensified its air bombardments of towns in the north , usually from altitudes beyond the range of FANT 's shoulder @-@ fired missiles . Appeals by Habré for French air missions to defend the area against the bombing were rejected , as Aouzou had been retaken against the wishes of French President François Mitterrand . Instead , Mitterrand called for international mediation to settle competing claims to the disputed territory . 
