Tunisian troops clashed with armed militants in the remote mountains near the Algerian border today, killing two, arresting another and seizing weapons, the defence ministry said.
It said the operation took place in Samamma mountains where security forces have been trying to contain small brigades of Al-Qaeda-linked militants who have used the remote region as a base since 2015.
Tunisian forces have been cracking down on militants since 2015 when Daesh claimed attacks by gunmen against foreign tourists. Officials are also concerned about the return of several thousand Tunisians who left to fight for militant groups in Iraq, Syria and Libya.