Brigade Takes On ISIS Allies in Libya

New York Times

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CAIRO - Fighters aligned with the Islamic State who control the Libyan city of Surt have begun clashing with a brigade from the neighboring city of Misurata that is trying to drive them out, according to news reports on Tuesday, and a leading Tunisian ...

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Senior ISIS commander killed in Libya

Ahmed Rouissi was one of Tunisia’s most wanted men. He was a senior commander of ISIS militants in Libya. (File photo)

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By Tarek Amara | Reuters, Tunis
Wednesday, 18 March 2015

One of Tunisia’s most wanted men, a senior commander of ISIS militants in Libya, has been killed fighting with Libyan forces near the city of Sirte, Tunisian security sources said on Tuesday.
The death of Tunisian militant Ahmed Rouissi, who was fighting in Libya’s ISIS ranks, confirms the growing importance of foreign fighters in the Libyan conflict, where two rival governments and armed forces battle for control.
Western governments and Libya’s North African neighbors are increasingly worried about Islamist militants, especially ISIS allies, extending their foothold in the chaotic country just across the Mediterranean from Europe.
“According to the information we have, we can say Rouissi has been killed in the most recent fighting in Sirte,” a Tunisian security source said.
Libya is in chaos with two rival governments - one internationally recognized, the other set up in Tripoli after its forces took over the capital - that are fighting for control four years after a civil war ousted Muammar Qaddafi.
In the turmoil, militants allied to ISIS this year have claimed a string of high-profile attacks targeting foreigners, including an assault on a luxury hotel in Tripoli, the storming of oilfields and kidnapping of oil workers.
Rouissi was a top member of Tunisia's Ansar al-Sharia extremist group branded as terrorists by Washington.
Tunisian officials believe he was the mastermind in the murders of two Tunisian opposition leaders in 2013 that plunged the country into crisis.
He later joined ISIS in Libya and had been running training and recruitment operations with other foreign fighters there, according to the Tunisian security source.
Tunisians make up one of the largest contingents of foreign fighters in Syria and Iraq, but more recently militants have been sending militants to take part in the conflict in Tunisia's North African neighbor Libya.
Tunisia also said on Tuesday it had dismantled a recruiting cell sending militants to fight in Libya and arrested dozens in part of tighter security and border controls to counter Islamist militants.
“Security officers and the army arrested ten terrorists trying to sneak into Libya to join the armed groups in Libya,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
The communique said security forces also dismantled four terrorist cells that were recruiting for Libya and arrested 22 more suspects in those operations.

Last Update: Wednesday, 18 March 2015 KSA 09:46 - GMT 06:46

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Tunisia: militants kill 19 in museum attack

Tunisian security forces secure the area after gunmen attacked Tunis' famed Bardo Museum on March 18, 2015. (AFP)

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Staff Writer, Al Arabiya News
Wednesday, 18 March 2015

Gunmen armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles attacked the Tunisian capital’s famed Bardo Museum and the parliament compound on Wednesday, killing 19 - including 17 tourists, Prime Minister Habib Essid said on Wednesday.
A policeman, a Tunisian citizen, and Polish, Italian, German, Spanish tourists were among the dead in the Tunis attack, Essid added.
Earlier, interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told Mosaique FM radio that “a terrorist attack (has hit) the Bardo Museum.”

Armed Tunisian policemen in plainclothes secure the area after gunmen attacked Tunis' famed Bardo Museum on March 18, 2015. (AFP)

He said security forces were surrounding at least two militants in the museum in central Tunis, a venue that is often packed with foreigners, the interior ministry spokesman added.
Local media reports said at least 10 tourists were still being held inside the museum.

Armed Tunisian policemen in plainclothes stop a vehicle as security forces secure the area after gunmen attacked Tunis' famed Bardo Museum on March 18, 2015. (AFP)

Exchanges of gunfire first rang out from parliament around midday, TAP state news agency reported.

The gunfire erupted while the parliament was in session, Al Arabiya News Channel said, prompting parliamentary committees to suspend their meetings.

Tunisian security forces secure the area after gunmen attacked Tunis' famed Bardo Museum on March 18, 2015. (AFP)

Lawmakers were ordered to assemble in the main chamber, Islamist MP Monia Brahim told AFP.
Witnesses said a large body of police was moving to evacuate the parliament building and anti-terror units were being deployed as well to the scene.

Tunisia, whose 2011 uprising against autocrat Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali inspired “Arab Spring” revolts in Egypt, Syria and Libya, has up to now largely avoided the chaos and violence that has plagued those countries.

Tunisian security forces secure the area after gunmen attacked Tunis' famed Bardo Museum on March 18, 2015. (AFP)

But Tunisia's armed forces have been fighting Islamist militants who emerged after the uprising.

Several thousand Tunisians have also left the country to fight for militant groups in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and the government is worried about returning jihadis carrying out attacks at home.

Last Update: Wednesday, 18 March 2015 KSA 18:10 - GMT 15:10