TUNIS: Tunisian forces launched a land and air operation yesterday against Islamist militants near the Algerian border, the military said, as Tunis battled a crisis sparked by a political slaying.
“A huge operation, with ground and air units, was launched at dawn to clean up the (Chaambi) mountain” area, armed forces spokesman Taoufik Rahmouni told Mosaique FM radio.
He said the assault was mounted after clashes on Thursday night between soldiers and “a terrorist group”, referring to fugitive Islamist militants. “We have not killed or arrested any terrorists” to date, he said, without giving a number for the hunted militants.
A military source on the ground earlier said that “the terrorist group is surrounded” in the Mount Chaambi area where eight Tunisian soldiers were slain this week. He said helicopters had carried out air strikes. “Either they give themselves up or they will be killed,” he said.
He said the attack took place around 16km from the town of Kasserine, near Mount Chaambi, where the soldiers were found on Monday with their throats cut after an ambush by militants.
Mosaique FM said the raids were aimed at destroying militant hideouts.
The latest military operation came as leaders in Tunis opened talks with opposition and civil society representatives to try to defuse the political crisis sparked by the July 25 murder of opposition MP Mohamed Brahmi.
The killing has been blamed on Islamists, with a connection made to the February murder of fellow opposition head Chokri Belaid — the same gun was used in both killings. Afp
