Tunisian and Algerian civil protection teams have successfully contained a forest fire in the border region of “Al-Haddab,” with cooling operations currently underway, as reported by Cairo News Network.
The fire, which destroyed about half a hectare of forest, was confirmed by the civil protection director in Jendouba to the Tunis Africa News Agency (TAP).
According to the same source, civil protection personnel from the region, along with their Algerian counterparts and other responders, are actively cooling the affected areas.
They are also monitoring for potential flare-ups and keeping a close watch on developments at the site.
In March, Tunisian security authorities heightened alert levels and mobilized forces in its border provinces with Libya and Algeria.
This move came following an increase in the number of African migrants from sub-Saharan countries aiming to embark on irregular migration journeys towards the southern coasts of Europe.
The surveillance along the Tunisian-Libyan border has been intensified following recent violent events and exchange of gunfire incidents at the Ras Jedir border crossing from the Libyan side days ago.
Consequently, security authorities in both countries issued a temporary closure order affecting travelers and commercial traffic in both directions.
Similarly, Tunisian Interior Minister Kamal Al-Faqi and senior security officials in the ministry and the elite forces of the National Guard have intensified surveillance of the Tunisian-Algerian border areas and the western provinces of the country, which have long been plagued by smuggling gangs operating in forests and mountains for decades.
These areas have also witnessed some of the most dangerous terrorist attacks and incidents of arms smuggling and fugitives evading justice over the past two decades.
Tunisian security forces have discovered an increasing number of sub-Saharan migrants infiltrating Tunisia over the past days and weeks, considering it the closest transit country towards Italy and southern Europe.
