No Result
View All Result
Friday, July 18, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

Tunisia closes Libya border following deadly IS attack on military barracks in border town

byMichel Cousins
March 8, 2016
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
Tunisia closes Libya border following deadly IS attack on military barracks in border town

The aftermath of the March IS attack in Ben Guerdane (Photo: social media)

By Houda Mzioudet.

Ben Guerdane clashes Photo of Tunisian military forces in Ben Guerdane today (Photo:  Radio Tataouine Facebook page)
Tunisian military forces in Ben Guerdane today (Photo: Radio Tataouine Facebook page)

Tunis, 7 March 2016:

Tunisian authorities closed both the Ras Jedir and Wazen-Dehiba border crossings with Libya until further notice. . . .[restrict]It followed attacks by militants linked to the so-called Islamic State (IS) on military barracks in the border town of Ben Guerdane early this morning. The fighting has left 53 dead so far. Of these, according to the Tunisian authorities, 35 were militants and 18 members of the security forces as well as civilians caught up in the battle.

According to eyewitness accounts to Tunisian media outlets, the militants took refuge in nearby houses and in the chaos a 12-year old girl was killed by a stray bullet.

A number of terrorist are reported to have been captured.

RELATED POSTS

Libya, Algeria and Tunisia agree on further cooperation on land transport

REAoL delegation participates in MeetMED Week 2024 in Tunisia

The fighting continued until the early afternoon, when the Tunisian army and police managed to re-establish order. The situation is now completely under control, according to Tunisian Ministry of Interior, with a curfew now in operation. Security forces are, however, on maximum alert in case there is another attack. They are now combing the area for any remaining terrorists who, it is thought, might try to escape across the border.

The Tunisian authorities have said that the entire border area is fully secured.

The unsettled town with high unemployment is known as centre for smuggling activities and smugglers are alleged to have “business” links with IS, helping smuggle its supporters across the border into Libya.

There are reports that the militants had crossed from Libya. According to Tripoli’s Rada (“deterrence”) forces, one of those killed in the fighting was a Tunisian who was an Islamic judge in Sabratha and who survived the US airstrike there.  He had then gone to Sirte before heading to Tunisia, it claimed. However, a Ben Guerdane local who wished to remain anonymous told the Libya Herald that the gunmen were mostly from Ben Guerdane itself and that it was likely they were members of sleeper cells who had coordinated with Tunisian IS militants based in Libya.

During the day, Tunisian forces found an arms cache in the area.

The Libyan government in Beida has condemned the Ben Guerdane attack. In a statement today, its expressed its support for the Tunisian people and authorities in the fight against terrorism and its readiness to “fully assist all countries to root out those criminals”. [/restrict]

Tags: featuredIslamic StateLibyaTunisia

Related Posts

ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

National Strategy for Prevention and Combating of Corruption (2025-2030) launched by ACA

July 17, 2025
Western Mountain Military Region conducts operation around Ghadames against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime
Libya

Western Mountain Military Region conducts operation around Ghadames against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime

July 17, 2025
Nearly 11,000 migrants repatriated from Libya and 3,165 Mediterranean fatalities: IOM
Libya

12,338 migrants intercepted at sea and returned to Libya up to 12 July: IOM

July 17, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

ACA suspends the Executive Director, the Chairman and 6 Board members of GNMTC

July 16, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

Three Fisheries officials temporarily suspend from work by Administrative Control Authority suspected of corruption

July 15, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

ACA saves LD 409 million on school textbook printing, suspends Tripoli Education Ministry’s Textbook Warehouse Manager

July 15, 2025
Next Post
Serraj in Indonesia calls for Muslim world support; next stop Riyadh

Serraj in Indonesia calls for Muslim world support; next stop Riyadh

CBL denies printing LD 10 bn new banknotes to fight cash shortage

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libyan Railways Implementation Authority invites International Federation of Railways to participate in November workshop

    China to resume implementation of its stalled railways projects in Libya

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libya and Nigeria discuss gas projects, extension of export pipelines to Europe and high-level delegation visit to Tripoli

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former ATIB bank Chairman Naaman Elbouri recalls his unjust kidnapping and detention – calls on CBL Governor to implement law against those unjustly accused

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Tripoli based Libyan government plans to complete 150,000 housing units by 2030

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Fuel subsidies reached LD 60 billion, 30 percent of which is smuggled – therefore can invest just LD 5 bn in housing: CBL Governor Issa

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

National Strategy for Prevention and Combating of Corruption (2025-2030) launched by ACA

Western Mountain Military Region conducts operation around Ghadames against drug trafficking and transnational organised crime

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.