53 now dead in Tunisia attack

Prime Minister Habib Essid praised Tunisia’s military and security forces on Tuesday for their response to the deadly assault by extremist attackers near the Libyan border.

The death toll from Monday’s clashes in the city of Ben Guerdane rose to 55, including 36 attackers, Essid said on Tuesday. Seven civilians and 12 members of Tunisia’s security forces also died, and 17 others were injured. “The attack that happened yesterday showed that our military and security forces were ready,” he told a press conference. “We won a battle, but we haven’t yet won the war on terror, and that war continues.” 

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but websites affiliated with the IS said its militants were handed a tough blow by Tunisian security forces.