Tunisian military kills senior IS commander in a raid on terrorists’ den southwest the capital
Tunisian security forces killed a senior commander in an Islamist group who detonated his suicide belt as he was shot during a raid against militants planning attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, officials said on Sunday, according to Reuters report.
Tunisia’s armed forces have been cracking down on militants allied to Islamic State and al Qaeda’s North Africa branch, especially since the country suffered four major attacks in the last two years, including two against foreign tourists, Reuters added.
The clashes came on Sunday when national guard special forces raided a house where the group had been under surveillance for weeks, after communications about a possible attack were intercepted, National Guard spokesman Col. Major Khelifa Chibani was cited by Reuters as saying.
Another militant was killed and three others arrested in the raid on a house in Sidi Bouzid, a town 200 km (125 miles) southwest of the capital, Tunis, According to Reuters.
“National Guard special forces killed two terrorists, including a commander of Okba Ibn Nafaa … ” Chibani said by telephone. “They had been in the Sammama mountains, and planned attacks during Ramadan.” Reuters added.
He did not give any details on the potential attack, but Tunisia has been on alert since militant gunmen attacked the Sousse beach resort in 2015, killing more than 30 foreigners and badly damaging the vital tourist industry, it indicated.
Reuters also reported that another security source said the commander was an Algerian militant, but did not give his name.
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