Tunisia: Arrest of the Emir of Jund al-Khilafa Battalion
The Tunisian Ministry of Interior has announced the arrest of two more terrorist elements in the mountains of Kasserine, marking another success for national security
The Tunisian Ministry of Interior announced on Thursday the arrest of a “dangerous terrorist element” in Kasserine, central Tunisia, in a successful security operation, along with two other elements who were using the mountains in the area as their headquarters.
In a statement, the ministry said, “Special units from the General Directorate of the National Guard and the National Army managed to arrest the terrorist Emir of the Jund al-Khilafa battalion, classified as extremely dangerous, Mahmoud Salami (his nationality was not specified), following a well-prepared ambush on one of the routes leading to the terrorist elements‘ strongholds in the Kasserine mountains.”
The statement also outlined the seizure of weapons, explosives, and suicide belts in possession of the terrorist element, who had participated in several operations targeting security and military formations, as well as robberies and intimidation of residents in the area.
“The investigations are still ongoing in coordination with the Public Prosecution of the judicial pole for counter-terrorism regarding the arrested element,” the statement added.
The ministry also announced the arrest of another element named Saif al-Din Zbiba, stating in a release that “following information received on Wednesday indicating the location of two terrorist elements in the Ain al-Ghram region deep in the Saif mountain in the Kasserine province, a joint security team was formed by the agents of the regional terrorism combat service in Kasserine, under the direction of the General Directorate of Specialized Services of National Security and the border guidance brigade of the National Guard. After thorough search and setting up an ambush, the arrest of the terrorist element named Saif al-Din Zbiba was made possible, and efforts are ongoing to arrest his accomplice.”
On Friday, the Ministry of Interior indicated the arrest of a third fleeing terrorist element in the Kasserine mountains by the National Guard “Border Guard” units. He was referred to the National Unit for Counter-Terrorism Crimes at the Counter-Terrorism Directorate.
The Jund al-Khilafa group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS) and announced its split from the Okba Ibn Nafaa organization affiliated with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb several years ago.
Tunisian security and military forces have succeeded in defeating these terrorist elements, though some cells remain in the mountains, they are isolated and dealt with.
Last month, the Tunisian Ministry of Interior stated that 11 terrorists belonging to the “Okba Ibn Nafaa” brigade were still entrenched in the mountains until 2023.
No major terrorist attacks have occurred for years in Tunisia, confirming the extent of security preparedness as well as the foiling of terrorist plots and the elimination of extremist elements.
Since May 2011, the country has occasionally witnessed terrorist acts, with their intensity escalating from 2013, resulting in dozens of casualties among the armed forces, police, and foreign tourists.
