ARA News

QAMISHLI – At least 800 Tunisian nationals were killed in Syria since the outbreak of the war there in 2011, Tunisia’s interior ministry said on Friday. 

Hundreds of Tunisian young men have joined the ranks of the radical groups in Syria, mostly fighting for the al-Qaeda affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State (ISIS).

“Most of the Tunisian jihadists have joined the ranks of ISIS after the group proved its success in taking over large areas in Syria and Iraq,” an informed source told ARA News. 

The ministry confirmed the death of 800 Tunisian jihadists in Syria so far, adding that hundreds others are still fighting for ISIS in Syria and Iraq. 

The spokesman of the Tunisian interior ministry Waleed Allouqini said in a statement that the authorities are prepared to take strict security procedures against returning jihadists, “as they may pose threat to the national security of Tunisia”. 

“Security units in cooperation with special forces have recently captured several pro-ISIS recruiting cells across the country,” Allouqini said, adding that the authorities are pursuing other suspects “to prevent further radicalization of Tunisian youth”. 

Reporting by: Ahmed Shiwesh

Source: ARA News