Four Tunisian soldiers were killed in a mine explosion on the heights of Mount M’ghila, in a closed military zone where jihadists, belonging to the Jound al Khilafa brigade, a branch of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), are camped.
A source close to the Ministry of National Defense told PANA that the explosion occurred when a vehicle carrying soldiers was conducting a search on the mountainous with rugged terrain. It is located between the governorates of Sidi Bouzid and Kasserine, near the border with Algeria.
Commander Mohamed Zekri said army units regularly conduct sweep operations in these heights to track down “terrorists” who take refuge there.
The authorities had previously announced that the Tunisian forces had eliminated several elements of the Jound Al Khilafa brigade, including leaders of this organization.
Constantly hunted down, the latter, whose number is estimated at dozens, from time to time fall back on the inhabitants living at the bottom of the mountain to look for food.
In February 2019, they beheaded a shepherd they suspected was an informant who reported their movements to authorities.
In a statement, the Tunisian Prime Minister, Hichem Mechichi, sent his condolences to the grieving families, assuring them of government support.
According to him, “this operation will not affect the determination to continue with efforts to combat and defeat terrorism.” (PANA/NAN)