On 22 February, a column of 200 Chadian soldiers departed their army base in the town of Tessalit and were transported towards the Algerian border in order to regroup with a detachment of the French army in a joint military operation targeted at recovering militant arms and possibly securing seven French hostages believed to be held in the area. The Chadian army was responsible for "closing" the narrow neck to the east known as Adrar Tigharghâr, located in the Amettetaï valley while the French army advanced to the west. According to several sources an MNLA affiliated guide named Sid Ahmed offered to help lead the Chadian army in logistical operations. The column followed the guide instead of taking bypass roads ultimately leading onto a main road subsequently leading into an ambush. Allege