08 March 2016•Update: 09 March 2016
By Aed Omeira
TUNIS, Tunisia
The majority of militants in Monday’s attacks on Tunisia’s eastern town of Ben Guerdane were locals, the country’s prime minister said Tuesday.
Armed militants attacked an army barracks and security posts in Ben Guerdane near the Libyan border, triggering a firefight with security forces.
Speaking at a press conference in capital Tunis, Habib Essid said that around 50 militants had taken part in the attacks.
“Most attackers were Tunisians,” Essid said. He, however, said that some foreigners might have been among the attackers.
Essid said that security forces had killed 38 militants and captured seven others.
“Ten security forces and seven civilians were also killed,” he added.
There has been no claim of responsibility for the attacks so far.
On Monday, Tunisian authorities imposed a night-time curfew in Ben Guerdane following the unrest.
“We have won a battle,” Essid said. “However, our fight against terrorism is still ongoing and Tunisia is ready to face any emergency.”
In November 2015, at least 13 presidential guards were killed in a suicide bombing in Tunis.
The Daesh terrorist group later claimed responsibility for the attack.
In an attempt to stop infiltration into its territories, Tunisia has built a 200-kilometer (125-mile) barrier along its border with Libya, which has become a hub for Daesh in recent months.
