An attack on the town of Ben Guerdane near the Tunisian-Libyan border on 7 March left more than 50 people dead.

The casualties include seven civilians, at least 10 Tunisian security force members and more than 30 militants.

The border was closed and a curfew imposed, according to press reports.

A group of fighters attacked police and army facilities with heavy weapons. They were aiming to establish a wilayat for the jihadist group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (Isis) centred on the frontier town of Ben Guerdane, according to the Tunisian government. The militants are thought to have crossed the border from Libya, where Isis has a stronghold focused in Sirte.

Five militants were killed in clashes in the same area last week, and one civilian was caught in the crossfire.

The border between Tunisia and Libya has always been used as a smuggling route, but as Libya has descended into civil war it has become a major source of instability for Tunisia. Attackers who killed foreign tourists in two attacks in 2015 are thought to have been trained in Libya. Multiple weapons-smuggling operations have also been discovered.

Tunisia has built a trench along the route to prevent illegal border crossing.