America's Silent War

In August it was revealed that members of the Marine Corps Raiders participated in combat operations against members of al-Qaeda in the Maghreb in an unnamed North African country in 2017. The United States Africa Command (AFRICOM) confirmed that 2 Marines received awards, but withheld further details such as the exact location of the combat. It was only stated that the Marine Raiders unit was involved in the firefight during a 3-day training, assistance, and advisory mission. Apparently, the US engagement in Tunisia goes beyond mere training missions. Everything indicates that the battle took place at Djebel Semmama, a mountain range near the Algerian border, where the US forces suffered their first casualty in Tunisia since World War II.

More than just advisors

The said combat operations took place on February 28, 2017. 7 months later, US special forces were ambushed in the village of Tongo Tongo in Niger. Together with allied forces from Niger and Tunisia, they engaged in a battle with Tunisian insurgents and members of other militias. Although US soldiers were involved in both ground and air support, their participation was not mentioned in the local press.

These events, as well as the fact that the US military presence in Tunisia has been ongoing for four and a half years, make it seem unlikely that the US military is only playing an advisory role there. The incidents also occurred during Tunisian offensives against insurgents entrenched in the mountains.

"Boots on the Ground" since 2014

Since the revolution in 2010, Tunisia has been striving for stabilization and democratization. The United States has mainly supported this process by providing assistance to the Tunisian army. This assistance has steadily increased between 2014 and 2017, so that today Tunisia receives more defense assistance from the United States than any other North African and Sahel countries, except Egypt. US troops have been stationed in Tunisia continuously since 2014. Among them are special forces and military advisors. AFRICOM's Airforce division also regularly conducts reconnaissance and surveillance missions over Tunisia from Italy.

Criticism of US military presence

The cooperation between Tunisia and the United States has many facets. In addition to the often emphasized training of the Tunisian armed forces in the fight against terrorism, efforts are being made to build up their own defense capabilities and stable border security. However, the presence of US troops and drone strikes face heavy criticism. US foreign policy is generally received negatively in Tunisia, and a certain anti-American sentiment is widespread in Tunisian society. Debates about US involvement often take place in the Tunisian parliament, especially regarding the question of Tunisia's national sovereignty. Incidents like the battle at Djebel Semmama also testify to a more extensive involvement of US forces in Tunisian affairs than AFRICOM is willing to admit. They also contribute to a growing public awareness of the US military expansion in the African continent.

The full story is available HERE .

AFRICOM online: www.africom.mil

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