Battle of Ben Guerdane

Last updated
Battle of Ben Guerdane
Part of the ISIL insurgency in Tunisia and the
spillover of the Libyan Civil War (2014–2020)
Attaque de Ben Gardane-8.png
Security forces during the attack.
Date7–9 March 2016
(2 days)
Location
Result Tunisian victory
Belligerents
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya
AQMI Flag asymmetric.svg Ansar al-Sharia (Tunisia) [1]

Flag of Tunisia.svg Tunisia

Commanders and leaders
VariousFlag of Tunisia.svg Habib Essid
Flag of Tunisia.svg Beji Caid Essebsi
Flag of Tunisia.svg Farhat Horchani
(Minister of National Defense)
Flag of Tunisia.svg General Ismaïl Fathali
(Army Chief of Staff)
Flag of Tunisia.svg Samir Naqi [2]
(Senior police official)
Flag of Tunisia.svg Mohamed Maali [2]
(Head of counter-terrorism department)
Flag of Tunisia.svg Colonel Abdel Atti Abdelkabir   Skull and Crossbones.svg [1] [2]
(Local anti-terror security chief)
Strength
~100 fighters [3] [4] Unknown
Casualties and losses
35-55 killed
52 captured [4] [5]
13 killed
14 wounded [4]
7 civilians killed
3 civilians wounded [4]
† Head of counter-terrorism division assassinated in home by militants. [2]

The Battle of Ben Guerdane occurred on March 7, 2016, in the city of Ben Gardane in Tunisia on the border with Libya. Islamic State forces attempted to seize the city, but were repulsed by the Tunisian military. The clashes continued also on 8 and 9 of March in the area.

Contents

The attack

Armed groups of militants from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya and Ansar al-Sharia began the attack on the town by grouping around and seizing the local mosque. The mosque loudspeakers were used to broadcast a message and a signal for the attack on government facilities. The Tunisian National Guard, military barracks, and police posts were simultaneously ambushed, in an attempt to take over Ben Guerdane and establish an "emirate" within Tunisia. [6] The fighting continued between the attackers and Tunisian military and police reinforcements, until clashes ended in mid-morning, and continued pursuit operations in the vicinity lasted the rest of the day. [7]

Casualties

The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of National Defense put the death toll at 55 armed militants, 13 security forces members and seven civilians. [4] [8]

Reactions

See also

Bibliography

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References