Kano , Nigeria ( CNN ) Hundreds of troops from Chad and Niger launched a ground and aerial offensive against Boko Haram in northeastern Nigeria on Sunday , according to residents and military sources from Niger . The sweeping offensive is taking place along the Niger-Nigeria border , sources said , effectively opening a new front in the fight against the Islamist terror group . This comes a day after Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS in an audio message purported to be from leader Abubakar Shekau . Latest developments in the fight against ISIS . `` Early this morning , troops from Niger and Chad launched ground and air raids against Boko Haram into Nigeria , and the operation is still continuing , '' said a military official in the border town of Diffa , Niger . `` It is an intensive operation that is aimed at pulverizing Boko Haram and crippling their capability , '' according to the source . He spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to comment publicly about the operation . ‎Residents said artillery fire and fighter jets pushed Boko Haram fighters into the Damasak district of Nigeria , which is a Boko Haram enclave . `` Around 6 a.m. , soldiers from Niger and Chad in huge numbers confronted Boko Haram around the Doutchi area outside Diffa and later crossed the bridge into Nigeria , '' said Diffa resident Ari Boubakarna . `` We heard huge explosions from artillery fire and fighter jets , but the explosions receded ‎as the troops moved further into Nigeria , '' Boubakarna continued . A journalist working in Diffa saw ‎troops headed toward the border with Nigeria , where Boko Haram fighters had taken up positions . ‎ '' They left in a huge convoy of over 200 vehicles , some of them fitted with machine guns , including armored tanks , ambulances , water tankers and cargo trucks , which indicate they were going for a prolonged operation , '' the journalist said . ‎Residents lined up the streets to offer water and tea as the troops drove out of Diffa , residents said , adding that soldiers promised to capture Shekau alive.‎ . ‎Another contingent of troops , backed by air support , moved out from the town of Bosso , Niger , according to residents . `` Soldiers in large numbers crossed into Nigeria this morning , and we could hear thunderous sounds of gunfire and explosions coming from the direction of Malam Fatori , '' Bosso resident Tandja Moumouni said . Nigeria and its neighbors have recently mounted a coordinated offensive against Boko Haram militants in the Borno state , where the Islamist group has seized a large swathe of territory . Nigeria shares a border with Niger , Chad and Cameroon there . As a part of this alliance , thousands of troops from Niger and Chad were stationed in Bosso and Diffa in January . ‎The offensive has succeeded in reclaiming some of the territory seized by the group . Nigeria has vowed to liberate all of its territories from Boko Haram before the general elections , which begin on March 28 , to enable displaced residents return to their homes for the elections .
Troops from Chad and Niger launch offensive against Boko Haram . The U.S. military has been conducting airstrikes in Nigeria since early last year to try to stop the militants who have killed thousands of people over a two-year insurgency that began with an uprising by Muslims demanding greater rights