Battle of Ben Guerdane

Part of the ISIL insurgency in Tunisia and the
spillover of the Libyan Civil War (2014–present)

Central Ben Guerdane avenue pictured in 2011.

Date	7–9 March 2016 (2 days)
Location	Ben Gardane, Medenine Governorate, Tunisia
Result	Tunisian Government victory

Belligerents

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya

Ansar al-Sharia (Tunisia)

Tunisian Republic

Commanders and leaders

Various

Habib Essid

Beji Caid Essebsi

Farhat Horchani
(Minister of National Defense)

General Ismaïl Fathali
(Army Chief of Staff)

Samir Naqi
(Senior police official)

Mohamed Maali
(Head of counter-terrorism department)

Colonel Abdel Atti Abdelkabir

(Local anti-terror security chief)†

Strength

~100 fighters

Unknown

Casualties and losses

35-55 militants killed, 52 captured

13 security forces killed, 14 others wounded

7 civilians killed, 3 wounded

† Head of counter-terrorism division assassinated in home by militants.

Tunisian Republic

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.

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 takeover Ben Gardane and establish an "Emirate" within Tunisia. 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.

The Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of National Defense put the death toll at 45 armed militants, 13 security forces members and seven civilians.

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Wikipedia