Tunisia: Islamic State claims Nov. 29 attack in Kasserine province

Event

On Sunday, December 2, an Islamic State (IS) propaganda site claimed responsibility for a November 29 attack on a police patrol in Kasserine province that wounded one bystander. Meanwhile, the Interior Ministry reported that at least four terrorist cells had recently been dismantled in several provinces; according to government officials, the cells were in the planning stages of a series of nationwide attacks. A heightened security presence is anticipated in the vicinity of the November 29 attack. Further such attacks are possible in the near term.

Context

Islamist militants are active in the southern provinces of Tunisia, particularly along the border area with Libya. The recent dismantling of IS terror cells and associated arrests of suspected militants in southern Tunisia follows the October 29 suicide attack on security forces in Tunis that wounded 26 people; the suicide bombing was the first attack in the capital since 2015.

Advice

Due to the terrorist threat, individuals across Tunisia are advised to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities, particularly when visiting sites deemed especially likely to be targeted in an attack (e.g. public transportation, train stations, ports, airports, public or government buildings, embassies or consulates, international organizations, schools and universities, religious sites, markets, hotels and restaurants frequented by foreigners/Westerners, festivals, etc.). Certain Western governments advise against travel to the south of the country (i.e. regions on the borders with Algeria and Libya) due to the presence of armed groups.