Chad, Niger Launch Joint Offensive Against Boko Haram

The U.S. military and its Western partners conduct training every year. Plans for these military exercises were set up long before Boko Haram began attacking its neighbors Niger, Chad and Cameroon, N'djamena, Chad, March 9, 2015.

Chadian troops watch the closing ceremony of operation Flintlock at an army base in N'djamena, Chad, March 9, 2015. 

Chadian Brig. Gen. Zakaria Ngobongue said that his soldiers deployed with troops from Niger and had entered Nigeria but he declined to give further details about the ongoing operation, March 9, 2015.  

Chadian troops participate in the closing ceremony of operation Flintlock at an army base in N'djamena, Chad, March 9, 2015. 

Chadian troops and Nigerian special forces observe as a U.S. special forces soldier (right) conducts a hostage rescue exercise in the Flintlock exercise in Mao, Chad, March 7, 2015.

Nigerian special forces guard a compound in a hostage rescue exercise at the end of the Flintlock exercise in Mao, Chad, March 7, 2015.