TUNIS: Tunisian forces launched air and ground strikes on militants near the Algerian border on Friday after fierce overnight clashes in the area, which came amid increased instability and political turmoil in the North African country.

Earlier this week, militants killed eight soldiers in the remote Mount Chaambi region, in one of the deadliest attacks on Tunisian security forces in decades.

Witnesses said on Friday they saw aircraft bombing caves in the area, where the military has been trying to track down militants since December.

“A major military operation with the participation of air and ground units began at dawn on Friday,” army spokesman Taoufik Rahmouni said, adding that the group of about 15 to 20 militants were surrounded by the military. “The army has now imposed a security ring around the area and is searching nearby towns in the region. Until now there are no casualties or arrests (in Mount Chaambi).”

Rahmouni called the group near the border a “terrorist group.” It is the same site where militants launched an ambush on Monday and shot dead eight Tunisian soldiers. The gunmen then slit some of the victims’ throats.