Shadowy group claims attack on Tunisia army patrol

TUNIS

A shadowy militant group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on an army patrol in western Tunisia one day earlier that left five soldiers dead.

The "Ajnad al-Khilafa Bil Kairouan" ("Soldiers of the Kairouan Caliphate") said on Twitter on Wednesday that its fighters had "successfully struck a patrol of the apostate army" in the city of Sbiba in Tunisia's western Kasserine province on Tuesday.

Africa Media, a Jihadist website, describes Ajnad al-Khilafa as an "independent Jihad group" with established links to other militant groups active in the Maghreb region, including Tunisia's Daesh-affiliated Uqba Ibn Nafi group.

Earlier Wednesday, Tunisia's Defense Ministry said the death toll from Tuesday's attack had risen to five troops.

Ministry spokesman Belhassen Oueslati said in a Wednesday statement that 13 suspects had been arrested near the site of the attack and referred to interrogation.

Since late 2012, Tunisia has suffered several militant attacks that have left scores of Tunisian security personnel dead.

Last month, at least 24 people, mostly foreign tourists, were killed in an attack on Tunis' Bardo Museum that was later claimed by the Uqba Ibn Nafi group.

TUNIS

A shadowy militant group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for an attack on an army patrol in western Tunisia one day earlier that left five soldiers dead.

Earlier Wednesday, Tunisia's Defense Ministry said the death toll from Tuesday's attack had risen to five troops.

Ministry spokesman Belhassen Oueslati said in a Wednesday statement that 13 suspects had been arrested near the site of the attack and referred to interrogation.

Since late 2012, Tunisia has suffered several militant attacks that have left scores of Tunisian security personnel dead.

Last month, at least 24 people, mostly foreign tourists, were killed in an attack on Tunis' Bardo Museum that was later claimed by the Uqba Ibn Nafi group.