Tunisian army exchanges fire with militants near border with Libya

TUNIS, Aug. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Tunisian military exchanged fire with armed militants Wednesday near the southeastern border with Libya, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement Thursday.

A total of six vehicles equipped with machine guns crossed a closed area near the military zone of Remada in Tataouine Province, before opening fire at a military patrol searching for smugglers from Libya, the ministry said.

The army seized six all-terrain vehicles in the sweeping operation, where a helicopter was also sent to hunt the militants.

The defense ministry said it would use all possible means to defend Tunisian territorial integrity from any terrorist threat.