Tunisian helicopter crashes and news confirm large causalities

Military helicopter crashes in "Oued Rbayeh," in Ben Guerdane A Tunisian  pilot and his co-pilot were killed on Saturday, in a crash of a National Army's helicopter in the "Oued Rbayeh" village, 30km from Ben Guerdane city. This accident is due to a technical failure , according to TAP news agency's correspondent in Medenine, citing military sources.
 The incident took place few hours after a heavy exchange of fire between the Tunisian army and militants last night.
The National Army's second Saharan territorial task force are carrying out a combing operation in the "Alouet Karnafa" village of Karaat Bouflija located at 70 kilometres in the extreme south of the delegation of Douz, in the governorate of kebili, near Tataouine governorate.
Violent confrontations started on Friday evening, between the army's task force and the individuals infiltrated in this village -- 500 kilometres south of the capital--, causing several victims whose number is still indeterminate.
Military sources in the region asserted that confrontations and intensive shooting lasted from dusk on Friday till dawn on Saturday.
It is a citizen of Douz who had discovered the infiltration of these individuals on board of 4x4 vehicles without registration plates transporting ultramodern arms, at dusk in the entrance of "Alouet Karnafa" village.
He immediately informed the head of "Karaat Bouflija" police station located between the governorates of Tataouine and Kebili, who headed to the spot. Upon his arrival there, the suspicious persons started shooting at him, which required the intervention of the National Army forces who have been surrounding the site since Saturday.
Important military reinforcements from the cities of Kebili, Douz and Matmata were deployed in the region.
 There  was no official announcement about the number of people killed in the fight but sources close to the local government said many soldiers were killed and wounded as well others form the militants .
Other sources confirmed to Arabs Today that Military airplanes were used in the battle as well as helicopters.
An atmosphere of fear and apprehension is prevailing among the local inhabitants, as they don't understand the motivations of these groups, whose identity has not been determined yet, especially as their vehicles have not registration plates.
Tunisian government has showed its concerns recently about the possibility of border crossing by militants from Libya to neighboring countries like Algeria, Tunisia and even Morocco. Knowing that these countries are already alerted due to the presence of Islamic fighters affiliated with  Al Qaeda in North Africa.
Tunisian government called its citizens in those areas to inform the authorities about any foreigners who rent furnished apartments or any suspicious behavior they observe.