9 gunmen killed in operations by Tunisian security forces

At least nine gunmen were killed in sweeping operations led by Tunisian security forces in the northwestern province of Gobellat, the Tunisian Ministry of Defense announced on Saturday. The operations were undertaken against the conservative religious group Ansar Sharia, which was believed to be responsible for the killing of two national guard agents in the same region Thursday. Tunisia's state-run news agency TAP said the ministry of defense declared the seizure of two tons of explosives in a neighboring village. Mohamed Ali Aroui, spokesperson of the minister of interior, said Saturday that some groups were planning to conduct plots and attacks against the national security. Ansar Sharia has been considered as a terrorist group by the Tunisian government after being accused of carrying out two political assassinations.