After suffering a string of defeats, the Libyan Army organized a counteroffensive on 8 August in an attempt to regain a foothold in the nearby Tibesti Mountains.

Ash-Sharif employed these forces as shock troops and, with enormous firepower — the Chadians lacking French air support — he finally succeeded in retaking Aouzou on 28 August.

[4] In response, Chad - under the leadership of Chadian President Hissène Habré - launched a surprise attack against the Libyan Maaten al-Sarra Air Base on 5 September, which resulted in a spectacular victory.

Fighting between the two nations was suspended six days later on 11 September 1987, when both leaders accepted a ceasefire proposed by the Organisation of African Unity.

The formal and final transfer of the Aouzou Strip from Libya to Chad took place on 30 May, when the sides signed a joint declaration stating that the Libyan withdrawal had been effected.