
Tunisian security forces pressed a search for terrorists near the Libyan border on Tuesday after a deadly raid the authorities described as an unprecedented assault by the Daesh group.
Analysts said Monday’s attacks show that terrorists are keen to spread their influence from Libya to Tunisia and to set up a new stronghold in the country.
Prime Minister Habib Essid said about 50 extremists were believed to have taken part in the coordinated dawn attacks on an army barracks and police and National Guard posts in the border town of Ben Guerdane.
He said that 36 attackers had been killed and seven captured in a fierce firefight that also saw the deaths of seven civilians and 12 security force personnel.
Essid told a news conference that the militants “murdered one internal security force member in his own home.”
He said three civilians and 14 security personnel were also wounded.
“The (security forces’) reaction was rapid and strong. We won a battle and are prepared for any others,” Essid said.
“Now they know Tunisia is no easy pushover and that it is not so simple to set up an emirate in Ben Guerdane.”
On Monday, Essid said that the operation’s aim had been to create a “Daesh emirate” in the town.
Michael Ayari, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, agreed, saying the attacks were an “extension of the armed conflict so far confined to Libya.” Some militants “consider that Ben Guerdane could become a strategic ‘liberated’ zone that would include southeastern Tunisia and the Tripoli region,” he said.
Interior ministry spokesman Yasser Mesbah said the search for any militants still at large was continuing in the border area. He said a nighttime curfew imposed in the town after the attack had been well respected and that the situation was “stable.”
Source: Arab News
GMT 16:06 2018 Thursday ,30 August
Abu Dhabi Police receive over 51,000 calls during Eid Al AdhaGMT 15:59 2018 Thursday ,30 August
46 services go paperless in Abu DhabiGMT 00:15 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
UAE takes leap of faithGMT 20:57 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
UAE civil defence to install fire safety systems in homesGMT 19:27 2018 Tuesday ,23 January
Sheikh Mohammed lauds UAE's ranking as most trusted governmentGMT 21:39 2018 Monday ,22 January
UAE to set up independent human rights committeeGMT 21:17 2018 Sunday ,21 January
13 Syrians have died of cold fleeing to LebanonGMT 14:41 2018 Sunday ,21 January
UAE climbs to 32nd place in global passport rankings

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor