Tunisia ’at War’ after Takfiri Attack

Local Editor

Tunisian president declared his country is at war after "unprecedented" attacks by Takfiri militants and ensuing clashes leave at least 53 people dead near the Libyan border.

President Beji Caid Essebsi said of the Monday raid: "This is an unprecedented attack, planned and organized. Its goal was probably to take control of this area and to announce a new emirate."

In parallel, Prime Minister Hassid Essid said the attack was an attempt by Daesh [the Arabic acronym for "ISIS"] militants to carve out a stronghold on the border.

In further details, gunmen attacked the city of Ben Guerdane at dawn Monday, triggering fierce fighting with the Tunisian army which continued past nightfall.

Corpses lay in the street and gunmen hid in homes as darkness fell, gunfire sporadically ringing out, according to residents.

Eventually, the clashes prompted Tunisian interior and defense ministers to travel to the town to oversee the operation. Officials said 35 attackers, seven civilians and 11 members of security forces were killed.

Authorities sealed off the nearby beach resort town of Djerba, a popular destination for tourists, and imposed a night curfew in the town. They also closed two border crossings with Libya.

In recent years, Tunisian forces have repeatedly clashed with Takfiri militant on the borders of Libya and Algeria, but Monday's fighting was unusually bloody.

No group has so far claimed responsibility for the attack but two Daesh-affiliated websites said the terrorist group's militants were engaged in the fighting.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team