Soldier Killed in Mine Explosion in Southern Tunisia

A Tunisian soldier was killed in the southern region of Kef, the defense ministry spokesman told AFP.

He was killed in a mine explosion while carrying out an operation in the area.

"Today men in a terrorist group were tracked to Mount Sammama near Kasserine," Belhassan Oueslati said.

"Aircraft were used and commando forces made a ground assault. A soldier on board a Hummer was killed when a mine exploded," he said, adding that the operation was still under way.

Since the revolution of January 2011, Tunisia has seen a rise in Islamist extremism. For the past two years, the army has been hunting jihadists in the border area.

Deadly ambushes by gunmen on the police and army are common in the region, where cross-border smuggling of fuel and food is also rife.