Tunisian forces fought off fierce attacks from ISIS jihadists near the Libyan border, in clashes that left at least 50 people dead, including seven civilians.
Ten members of the security forces were killed in the fighting in the border town of Ben Guerdane, which Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi condemned as an 'unprecedented' jihadist attack aimed at 'establishing a new Islamic State emirate'.
The border, which has long been a key access point for jihadists entering Libya to join ISIS, has now been closed and a night curfew will be enforced.
Tunisian forces fought off fierce attacks from ISIS jihadists near the Libyan border, in clashes that saw at least 45 people dead, including seven civilians
It was the second deadly clash in the border area in less than a week as Tunisia battles to prevent the large number of its nationals who have joined ISIS's Libyan franchise, based in the city of Sirte
Tunisian special forces standby after enduring a difficult battle with jihadists from across the Libyan border
In statements broadcast on state television, Essebsi said the assault was 'maybe aimed at controlling' the border region with Libya, and vowed to 'exterminate these rats'.
It was the second deadly clash in the border area in less than a week as Tunisia battles to stop the large number of its nationals who have joined ISIS's Libyan franchise, based in the city of Sirte.
The jihadists have taken advantage of a power vacuum since the NATO-backed overthrow of longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 to set up bases in several areas of Libya, including the Sabratha area between Tripoli and the Tunisian border.
US-led airstrikes targeted an important ISIS training camp in Sabratha, where many Tunisian nationals were thought to have been learning basic weapons handling and bombmaking.
Fears remain that the jihadi group is looking to inflict another attack on westerners in Tunisia, following the Bardo museum and Sousse massacre last year.
The government said that an army barracks, police and National Guard posts in Ben Guerdane came under attack in coordinated pre-dawn assaults.
Six members of the National Guard, two policemen, a customs official and a soldier died in the fighting, the defence and interior ministries said in a joint statement.
Six wounded militants were captured, the defence ministry said.
The government said that an army barracks and police and National Guard posts in Ben Guerdane came under attack in coordinated pre-dawn assaults
Fears remain that the jihadi group is looking to inflict another attack on westerners in Tunisia, following the Bardo museum and Sousse massacre last year
The youngest civilian victim killed in the deadly border attack is thought to have been just 12-years-old
As well as closing border crossings with Libya, authorities also closed the main road north to the rest of Tunisia
Hospital official Abdelkrim Chafroud said a 12-year-old boy was among the dead civilians.
An AFP correspondent reported that schools and offices in Ben Guerdane were closed and troops had taken up position on rooftops across the town.
Residents were being urged to stay indoors even before the 18:00 GMT start of the nighttime curfew.
As well as closing border crossings with Libya, authorities also closed the main road north to the rest of Tunisia, the correspondent said.
Authorities said ground and air patrols along the border would be reinforced.
Prime Minister Habib Essid ordered the defence and interior ministers to head to Ben Guerdane to oversee operations against the jihadists.
'Tunisia is on the path to victory against these groups,' government spokesman Khaled Chaouket said on state-owned Wataniya TV.
Last Wednesday, troops killed five militants in a firefight outside the town in which a civilian was also killed and a commander wounded.
At least four of the five militants killed in last week's firefight were Tunisians who had entered from Libya in a bid to carry out attacks in their homeland, the interior ministry said.
'Suspicious movements had been reported since the Sabratha strike and there was a feeling that ISIS was looking for revenge,' said Hamza Meddeb, a researcher for the Carnegie Middle East Centre.
Tunisia has built a 125-mile barrier that stretches about half the length of its border with Libya in an attempt to stop militants infiltrating
Last Wednesday, troops killed five militants in a firefight outside the town in which a civilian was also killed and a commander wounded
Tunisian special forces take position during clashes with militants in the southern town of Ben Guerdane
Handfuls of US, British and French special forces have already been reported in Libya
Police border posts were one of the targets by the jihadi group of fighters earlier this morning
'It was only a matter of time and there were strong clues that Tunisia would be a target,' he added, mentioning the possibility of 'sleeper cells' in the country.
Deadly attacks by ISIS on foreign holidaymakers last year, which dealt a devastating blow to Tunisia's tourism industry, are believed to have been planned from Libya.
Tunisia has built a 125-mile barrier that stretches about half the length of its border with Libya in an attempt to stop militants infiltrating.
February's US strike on the IS training camp outside Sabratha targeted the suspected mastermind of two of last year's attacks, Noureddine Chouchane.
Washington has said Chouchane was likely among the dozens of militants killed, and that the strike probably averted a mass shooting or similar attack in Tunisia.
Western governments have been increasingly alarmed by the growing IS presence in Libya just 300 kilometres (185 miles) across the Mediterranean from Europe and have made contingency plans for intensified military action.
Rival administrations which have vied for power since mid-2014 are being urged to sign up to a UN-brokered national unity government to facilitate the fight against the jihadists.
Handfuls of US, British and French special forces have already been reported in Libya.
A contingent of around 50 Italians is about to join them, Il Corriere della Sera reported last Thursday, citing a classified order signed by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi last month.
Britain announced last week that it was sending a team of around 20 soldiers to Tunisia to train troops patrolling the border with Libya.
Thirty Britons were among 38 foreign holidaymakers killed in a gun and grenade attack on a beach resort near the Tunisian city of Sousse last June.
And last March, jihadist gunmen killed 21 tourists and a policeman at the Bardo Museum in Tunis.
According to a UN working group on the use of mercenaries, more than 5,000 Tunisians have travelled abroad to join jihadist groups, many of them in Libya.
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