Qaeda Trying to Regroup in Tunisia after ISIS SetbacksTunisian special security forces stand guard in Habib Bourguiba Avenue in Tunis on February 8, 2013 (AFP Photo/Fethi Belaid)Tunis - Asharq Al-AwsatThe killing of a senior Algerian militant by special forces soon after he slipped into Tunisia has raised concern that al-Qaeda is trying to regroup in the North African state as rival ISIS has suffered major setbacks, security sources say. Kobi was on an apparent mission to reunite splinter groups of al-Qaeda fighters in Tunisia, putting the army on alert for more infiltrations, a senior Tunisian security source told Reuters. That has prompted AQIM to try to lure new talent from among ISIS veterans, two Tunisian security sources told Reuters. Their command structure is dominated by Algerians while a rival group loosely associated with ISIS based in the same region is run by Tunisians, Tunisian security sources say. But a Tunisian security source said a regional AQIM commander remained in eastern Algeria intent on revamping the organization across North Africa, not just in Tunisia.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 09, 2018 11:15 UTC