Tunisia: We won the Ben Gardane battle but the war continues

Some 55 people were killed, including 36 militants, in the Ben Gardane battle on Monday, official Tunisian figures have shown.

Speaking during a press conference yesterday Prime Minister Habib Essid said that fighting against extremist groups lead to the death of 12 army and security officers and seven civilians. Fourteen army and security officials were wounded in addition to three civilians.

Armed groups launched simultaneous attacks on three military and security headquarters on the Libyan-Tunisian border at dawn on Monday before government forces destroyed them in street battles.

“The terrorists were in the mosque and from there the attack signal began. They numbered around 50 people,” Essid said.

He added that “the losses in the ranks of the attackers were important. They enabled the arrest of seven of them and … very important data [was obtained].”

Essid confirmed that the Ben Gardane operation “boosted the morale of the army and security forces, and proved that Tunisia is not a space for the establishment of an emirate. We won a battle but the war against terrorism is still continuing.”