At least 14 Tunisian soldiers were killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants on security checkpoints near the Tunisian border with Algeria, the Defence Ministry said on Thursday.
The attack occurred on Wednesday evening in the western area of Mount Chaambi, where the army is carrying out an anti-militant campaign, according to spokesman Rachid Hawela.
“The terrorists used rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns in attacking the soldiers,” he added.
At least one assailant was killed in an ensuing exchange of fire, media reports said.
Last year the Tunisian government deployed large numbers of troops in Mount Chaambi, a stronghold of Islamist insurgents believed to be linked to al-Qaeda.
