Attack kills 9 security personnel in western Tunisia

By Adel al-Thabeti

TUNIS (AA) – Nine security personnel were killed in a militant attack in western Tunisia on Sunday, according to the official television.

The television said a terrorist group had attacked a patrol of the National Guard – affiliated with the Interior Ministry – in a mountainous area in the northwestern province of Jendouba near border with Algeria.

The Interior Ministry confirmed the attack, but did not give an exact death toll.

Ministry spokesman Sofian al-Zaaq said a number of people were killed and injured in the attack, but without elaborating.

“A security patrol was ambushed by a terrorist group before opening fire” on the patrol, he was quoted by the official Tunisian television.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

Sunday’s death toll is the highest since 2015 when militants carried out three major attacks, killing dozens, including security personnel.

In 2016, Daesh terrorist group staged deadly attacks on military and security posts in the eastern town of Ben Guerdane near Libyan border, killing 12 soldiers and seven civilians.