2014 Chaambi Mountains attack

Skirmish in Tunisia 2014 Chaambi Mountains attack the Chaambi Operations Chaambi Mountains, Tunisia Tunisian Armed Forces 2014 07 16 y Mass shooting 15 soldiers1 militant 25 Uqba Ibn Nafi Battalion Automatic rifles, rocket-propelled grenades On 16 July 2014, militants from the Uqba Ibn Nafi Battalion attacked two checkpoints in the Chaambi Mountains killing fourteen Tunisian soldiers and injuring twenty-five.Bouazza Bouazza Home> International 14 Tunisian Soldiers Killed in Extremist Attacks https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/tunisian-soldiers-killed-extremist-attacks-24594441 AP via ABC News 17 July 2014 The 2014 Chaambi Mountains attack is the deadliest militant skirmish involving the Tunisian Armed Forces since their independence in 1956.Amara Tarek At least 14 Tunisian troops killed in mountain ambushes https://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN0FM0ZJ20140717 https://web.archive.org/web/20140726053816/http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFKBN0FM0ZJ20140717 dead 26 July 2014 Reuters 17 July 2014 Background Tunisian Revolution Tunisian Constituent Assembly election, 2011 2013–14 Tunisian protests thumb|Activists organize a candlelight protest in Tunis on 3 July 2014, to denounce terrorism and insecurity.http://magharebia.com/en_GB/articles/awi/features/2014/07/07/feature-01 Tunisians protest terrorism Magharebia 7 July 2014 20 August 2014 Arfaoui, Jamel Since the 2011 uprising that led to the ousting of former president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, Tunisia has faced an unprecedented rise in radical Islamism, with hardline fundamentalists became more influential. Islamist militants have been increasingly present around the porous border with Algeria. The previous year, some of them were able to capture and execute eight Tunisian soldiers.https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tunisia-violence-toll-idUSKBN0FM0P820140717 Militants kill 14 Tunisian soldiers in mountain ambush Reuters 17 July 2014 18 July 2014 Amara, Tarekhttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-28341318 Tunisian soldiers killed in attack near Algerian border BBC 17 July 2014 19 July 2014 Government forces have been battling militants in the Chaambi Mountains region since early 2013 and it was declared a "closed military zone".http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/07/17/14-soldiers-killed-20-wounded-in-chaambi-attack/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140720115314/http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/07/17/14-soldiers-killed-20-wounded-in-chaambi-attack/ dead 20 July 2014 14 Tunisian Soldiers Killed, 23 Wounded in Chaambi Attack Tunisia Live 17 July 2014 18 July 2014 Jaffe, Jacob Attack Chaambi Operations The attacks happened during the evening while the soldiers were breaking their fast to eat during Ramadan. At 7:40 p.m., 60 militants divided in two groups simultaneously ambushed two checkpoints which were set up by the military to control the Chaambi Mountains region. The militants shot from many angles using rifles and rocket-propelled grenades. Five soldiers died of their wounds and nine burned to death when their tent caught fire. Twenty others were injured and the wounded were taken to a hospital in Kasserine.Hassan Amro At least 14 Tunisian soldiers killed as army battles rebels http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-tunisia-army-attack-20140717-story.html 17 July 2014 Another soldier went missing but his body was found the next day around a kilometer from the site of the initial clashes, raising the death toll to 15.https://news.yahoo.com/missing-tunisia-soldier-found-dead-jihadist-attack-151648451.html Missing Tunisia soldier found dead after jihadist attack Yahoo News Agence France-Presse 18 July 2014 19 July 2014 Tunisia's Defense Minister Ghazi Jeribi said that the attackers infiltrated the region from the borders with Algeria and that the assailants included Tunisians, Algerians and "foreign mercenaries". One of them was killed and was identified as a Tunisian jihadist.https://news.yahoo.com/four-tunisian-soldiers-killed-terrorist-attack-035010804.html Fourteen Tunisian troops killed in deadliest attack on army Yahoo News Agence France-Presse 17 July 2014 18 July 2014 Larbi, Kaouther Reactions Domestic President Moncef Marzouki announced a three-day period of mourning for the country and ordered flags to be flown at half mast. Prime Minister Mehdi Jomaa condemned the attacks and vowed they would not go unpunished. He said that they gave a bad image to an "open and tolerant Tunisia" and were aimed at obstructing the country's democratic process. Jomaa announced a crackdown on terrorism by strengthening of border control and all networks recruiting fighters for jihad in other countries, most notably Syria.http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2014/Jul-19/264399-tunisia-putting-squeeze-on-extremism-following-attacks.ashx#axzz37wFtfX9M Tunisia putting squeeze on extremism following attacks The Daily Star 19 July 2014 19 July 2014 Land forces chief, Maj. Gen. Souhail Chmangi said that this is a state of "open warfare". The incident also drew condemnation by most of Tunisia's political movements. Many criticized the government for its failure to prevent such attack and the National Constituent Assembly (NCA) for not drafting a law that would equip the country well enough to fight the threat of terrorism. As a result, members of the NCA held a debate the following day. where fifteen articles of the draft counter-terrorism law were ratified. "People accuse the NCA of procrastination in drafting the terrorism law, and we are not,” said Kalthoum Badr Eddine, the commission's president.http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/07/18/nca-debates-anti-terror-law-in-wake-of-chaambi-attack/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140722141232/http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/07/18/nca-debates-anti-terror-law-in-wake-of-chaambi-attack/ dead 22 July 2014 NCA Debates Anti-Terror Law in Wake of Chaambi Attack Tunisia Live 18 July 2014 19 July 2014 Blioua, Imen Béji Caïd Essebsi, leader of Nidaa Tounes, delivered a statement following the attacks. "The war against terrorism requires a strong, national political union which contrasts with the previously adopted strategies driven primarily by laxity and procrastination," he said. Popular Front spokesman Hamma Hammami said that Tunisia is "now paying the price for ideological, [...] political, and legislative laxity". Some Islamist groups also condemned the attacks. Ridha Belhaj, spokesman of Hizb ut-Tahrir, said: "We consider this attack to be criminal and treacherous. What is more dangerous than the act itself is its timing. [...] Every time there is a political crisis, a similar incident occurs". On its Facebook page, Ennahdha called on political forces, national organizations, and all supporters of freedom in Tunisia to participate in a march after Friday prayers the next day.http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/07/17/tunisias-political-parties-respond-to-chaambi-attack/ https://web.archive.org/web/20140720085247/http://www.tunisia-live.net/2014/07/17/tunisias-political-parties-respond-to-chaambi-attack/ dead 20 July 2014 Tunisia’s Political Parties Respond to Chaambi Attack Tunisia Live 17 July 2014 19 July 2014 Jaffe, Jacob International Egypt - Egypt denounced the terrorist attacks through a statement by the Foreign Ministry spokesman Badr Abdel-Atti. He said that "terrorism is a global phenomenon and not related to a specific religion or nation," adding that it is important to rally regional and international efforts to confront its threat.http://www.sis.gov.eg/En/Templates/Articles/tmpArticleNews.aspx?ArtID=78845#.U8rzELHiA0U Egypt condemns terror attack in Tunisia State Information Service 19 July 2014 20 July 2014 France – The French government condemned the attack and the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Romain Nadal reiterated his country's support to the Tunisian government in its fight against terrorism. "We express our condolences to the families of the victims," he added.http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/140717/france-condemns-terrorist-attack-tunisia France condemns terrorist attack in Tunisia GlobalPost Xinhua News Agency 17 July 2014 18 July 2014 Jordan - King Abdullah II phoned both Tunisia and Egypt's presidents, due to a similar attack in Egypt two days later, offering them his condolences and condemning "such cowardly terrorist acts". He also expressed his solidarity with Egypt and Tunisia, as well as the families of the victims.http://www.petra.gov.jo/Public_News/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?lang=2&site_id=1&NewsID=158898&Type=P King extends condolences to Egyptian, Tunisian presidents Petra News Agency 20 July 2014 20 July 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140721005956/http://petra.gov.jo/Public_News/Nws_NewsDetails.aspx?lang=2&site_id=1&NewsID=158898&Type=P 21 July 2014 dead dmy-all Turkey – Turkish Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Tunisia. The statement said: "We strongly condemn the terrorist attack perpetrated in Tunisia and causing the death of 15 soldiers and the injury of 20. Turkey will continue to be in solidarity with the friendly and brotherly people of Tunisia."http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-242_-18-july-2014_-press-release-regarding-the-attack-in-tunisia.en.mfa No: 242, 18 July 2014, Press Release Regarding the Attack in Tunisia The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey 18 July 2014 20 July 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140727025545/http://www.mfa.gov.tr/no_-242_-18-july-2014_-press-release-regarding-the-attack-in-tunisia.en.mfa 27 July 2014 dead dmy-all United States – The United States Department of State released a statement condemning the attack: "The United States strongly condemns last evening’s terrorist attack". "We extend our condolences to the families of the victims, and hope for the quick and full recovery of the wounded," the statement added.https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2014/07/229439.htm Statement on Attack Against Tunisian Soldiers on July 16, 2014 United States Department of State 17 July 2014 18 July 2014 Psaki, Jen References 2 Tunisia Category:Arab Winter in Tunisia Category:2014 mass murders Category:2014 mass shootings in Africa Category:Mass shootings in Tunisia Category:21st-century mass murders in Tunisia Category:2014 disasters in Tunisia Category:Terrorist incidents in Africa in 2014 Category:Terrorist incidents in Tunisia Category:2014 murders in Tunisia Category:Ambushes in Tunisia Category:Grenade attacks in Africa Category:Attacks on military installations in 2014 Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in Tunisia