Islamist fighters have attacked army and police posts in the Tunisian town of Ben Guerdan near the border with Libya killing at least 10 militants, five civilians and a soldier, officials say.
The interior ministry warned people to stay in their homes as gunfire erupted in the centre of town early on Monday.
An army spokesman said soldiers had killed 10 militants after they attacked military and police posts. Hospital sources said at least five civilians had also died.
Tunisia has built a trench along its border, worried about spillover from Libya where Islamic State is expanding, and Western military advisers are training Tunisian border forces.
Islamist militants trained in jihadist camps across the border in Libya carried out several attacks in Tunisia targeting foreign tourists last year, including the attacks on the Tunis Bardo museum and a Sousse beach hotel.
