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| Clash at Tunisian Military Barracks Near Libya Kills at Least 27 | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| TUNIS — Militants attacked a military barracks in Tunisia, near the border with Libya, on Monday, leaving at least 27 people dead after a predawn firefight with security forces, Tunisian officials said. | |
| The clashes at Ben Gardane, 18 miles from the border, were the second in the district in a week and come at a time of growing concern that the war in Libya, where the Islamic State has aggressively expanded, is spilling into Tunisia. | The clashes at Ben Gardane, 18 miles from the border, were the second in the district in a week and come at a time of growing concern that the war in Libya, where the Islamic State has aggressively expanded, is spilling into Tunisia. |
| Belhassen Oueslati, a spokesman for the Tunisian Defense Ministry, said the assault started just after 5 a.m. Monday with a concerted attack on the military base. The security forces responded with fire, killing 21 militants and capturing six others, he said. | Belhassen Oueslati, a spokesman for the Tunisian Defense Ministry, said the assault started just after 5 a.m. Monday with a concerted attack on the military base. The security forces responded with fire, killing 21 militants and capturing six others, he said. |
| Two security officials and four civilians also died, Mr. Oueslati said. A hospital official told Agence France-Presse that a 12-year-old boy was among the fatalities. Officials said they expected the toll to rise. | Two security officials and four civilians also died, Mr. Oueslati said. A hospital official told Agence France-Presse that a 12-year-old boy was among the fatalities. Officials said they expected the toll to rise. |
| Soldiers set up checkpoints in Ben Gardane, sealed the nearby border with Libya and urged residents through bullhorns to remain indoors as they hunted for other attackers. | Soldiers set up checkpoints in Ben Gardane, sealed the nearby border with Libya and urged residents through bullhorns to remain indoors as they hunted for other attackers. |
| Although officials did not identify the attackers, this was the first such assault to target a Tunisian military installation, and most suspicions pointed to militants based in Libya as being behind the raid. | Although officials did not identify the attackers, this was the first such assault to target a Tunisian military installation, and most suspicions pointed to militants based in Libya as being behind the raid. |
| Last month, American warplanes killed at least 43 people in an attack on an Islamic State training camp in Sabratha, Libya, 60 miles from the border with Tunisia. The target of that airstrike was a militant commander linked to attacks on Western tourists at a museum and a beach resort in Tunisia last year. | Last month, American warplanes killed at least 43 people in an attack on an Islamic State training camp in Sabratha, Libya, 60 miles from the border with Tunisia. The target of that airstrike was a militant commander linked to attacks on Western tourists at a museum and a beach resort in Tunisia last year. |
| American commanders say such strikes are part of an effort to contain the spread of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, while the United States and its allies consider a much wider campaign of airstrikes against the group in Libya. | American commanders say such strikes are part of an effort to contain the spread of the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, while the United States and its allies consider a much wider campaign of airstrikes against the group in Libya. |
| The United States has said that about 6,500 Islamist State fighters are in Libya, many of whom are originally from Tunisia. Although most of the fighters are based along a 150-mile stretch of coastline in northern Libya, others are based in towns like Sabratha, from where they can plot attacks across the region. | The United States has said that about 6,500 Islamist State fighters are in Libya, many of whom are originally from Tunisia. Although most of the fighters are based along a 150-mile stretch of coastline in northern Libya, others are based in towns like Sabratha, from where they can plot attacks across the region. |
| In an effort to stop militant infiltration, Tunisia has built a 125-mile-long berm along half of the border with Libya. Still, tensions are rising: On Wednesday, Tunisian soldiers killed five militants in a firefight near Ben Gardane. | In an effort to stop militant infiltration, Tunisia has built a 125-mile-long berm along half of the border with Libya. Still, tensions are rising: On Wednesday, Tunisian soldiers killed five militants in a firefight near Ben Gardane. |
| After the assault on Monday, the security forces said they had confiscated a large cache of weapons. The security forces also blocked nearby border crossing points at Ras Ajdir and on the island of Djerba, a tourist area that is home to a small population of Tunisian Jews. | After the assault on Monday, the security forces said they had confiscated a large cache of weapons. The security forces also blocked nearby border crossing points at Ras Ajdir and on the island of Djerba, a tourist area that is home to a small population of Tunisian Jews. |
| In a statement, the Interior Ministry urged locals to remain indoors but assured them the situation was “under control.” Tunisian officials have also declared a 7 p.m. curfew. | In a statement, the Interior Ministry urged locals to remain indoors but assured them the situation was “under control.” Tunisian officials have also declared a 7 p.m. curfew. |
| Although militants had never targeted a military installation in Tunisia, 12 people died in a suicide attack on a bus carrying members of the presidential guard in Tunis in November. | Although militants had never targeted a military installation in Tunisia, 12 people died in a suicide attack on a bus carrying members of the presidential guard in Tunis in November. |