The Growth Of The Islamic State In Africa Continues

Bloomberg: Islamic State Spreads in North Africa in Attacks Ignored by West

* First attempt to take Tunisia territory foiled by villagers
* Algeria, Tunisia reject military action from outside region

The Islamic State fighters appeared at dawn in the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdane, attacking police and army barracks. Last week’s clashes killed at least 58 people, including 46 militants and a 12-year-old girl. Tunisia is no stranger to jihadist violence -- three large-scale assaults last year decimated its tourism sector -- but it’s the first time militants have attempted to seize territory.

The people of this desert crossroads helped turn the tide, hurling stones at militants as security forces engaged them. After 1 1/2 hours, the gunmen, some of whom had trained in neighboring Libya and smuggled weapons across the border, were on the run.

“We lived through an actual occupation by Islamic State,” said Mohsen Lechihib, local head of the Tunisian General Labor Union. “We thought Ben Guerdane would fall into their hands.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Islamic State are not the only Islamic terror organizations operating in Africa .... AQIM: Rivals of Islamic State (DW). More here .... Al Qaeda, seeking to reassert itself, sets sights on West Africa and foreign visitors (L.A. Times).