Tunisian forces kill three ISIS militants near Algerian border

Tunisia on alert after ISIS posted photos of armed militants in mountain region

Islamic state militants have been losing ground elsewhere in the world, including in the village of Baghouz, Deir Al Zor province, Syria. REUTERS

Tunisian special forces killed three ISIS militants on Tuesday after clashes in mountains near the Algerian border, a security official said.

Days earlier, ISIS had released pictures of militants carrying weapons in the mountains where they have hidden for years.

"Our forces killed three terrorists suspected of belonging to Daesh after clashes in the Saloum mountains in Kasserine," Col Houssem Jbebli said.

One of the Arab world’s most secular nations, Tunisia became a target for militants after being hailed as a beacon of democratic change with the uprising against Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in 2011.

Some militants operate in remote areas near the border with Algeria.

Tunisia suffered three major attacks in 2015, including two against tourists: one at a museum in Tunis; and the second on a beach in Sousse.

The third targeted presidential guards in the capital. All three attacks were claimed by ISIS.

Tunisia's tourism industry has gradually recovered from the attacks.