Tunisians are in shock following an ambush which left eight soldiers dead and three injured near the Algerian border. The incident took place on Monday, in the mountainous area of Chammbi in the Governorate of Kasserine, some 290 kilometers south of the capital Tunis. According to media reports, five of the soldiers killed had their throats cut.

le plus petit des soldats a 21 ans et le plus âgé a 31 ans..Tout à l'image d'une jeunesse Tunisienne sacrifiée #RIP

— aymen ferchichi (@aymenferchichi) July 30, 2013

The youngest of the soldiers is aged 21, the oldest is 31. This reflects the image of a Tunisian youth being sacrificed. #RIP

For several months Tunisian armed and security forces have been hunting for Islamic militants believed to be related to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), on Mount Chammbi. Land mine explosions in the months of April, May and June left two soldiers dead and at least 14 injured among the security and armed forces. Interim President Moncef Marzouki described the ambush as a “terrorist attack”. “We have entered the period of terrorism. We are going to pass through a difficult period but we shall overcome it”, he said in a televised speech.

Names of soldiers killed on Mount Chaambi.

With news of the tragedy spreading, speculations and accusations on social media started to multiply:

Les théories complotistes sur #Chaambi se multiplient en #Tunisie certains évoquent un coup de l'ex-RCD, de Nahda ou des services algériens

— David Thomson (@_DavidThomson) July 31, 2013

conspiracy theories about #Chaambi multiplying in Tunisia. Some blame the RCD (former ruling party of Zeine el Abidin Ben Ali), others Ennahdha (the Islamist movement leading the coalition government) or the Algerian intelligence services.

@_DavidThomson Les #Tunisiens sont devenu plus parano que les américains. Vous oubliez la piste du mossad aussi? Manque plus la piste alien

— Tunisie (@tunisie) July 31, 2013

@_DavidThomson Tunisians have become more paranoid than Americans. You did not mention the Mossad. The last thing we need is to have the aliens as suspects.

When asked about who he thinks is behind the bloody ambush, Tunis-based France24 journalist, David Thomson answered:

@SoulSoundProd je pense qu'il s'agit d'une cellule jihadiste isolée, indépendante de toute organisation mais je n'exclue pas de me tromper

— David Thomson (@_DavidThomson) July 31, 2013

I think it is an isolated jihadist group, independent from any other organization. I could be wrong, though

As with the assassination of opposition MP Mohamed Brahmi and leftist opposition leader Chokri Belaid, the three-party coalition government led by the Islamist Ennahdha Movement was blamed. Opposition figures and activists have often accused the government of not taking matters of terrorism seriously and of tolerating religious extremists.

Le message que #ennahdha fait passer est clair, si vous nous dégagez, on brûlera la #Tunisie… Ca me rapelle un certain #Zaba

— Tounsi (@T2Tuniz) July 30, 2013

Ennahdha's message is clear, if you make us leave [power], we will set #Tunisia on fire. This reminds me of ZABA [former president Zeine el Abidin Ben Ali, whose ouster on January 14, 2011 led to a wave of violence and acts of vandalism]

La contre-révolution au pouvoir qui n'a jamais envisagé de combattre le terrorisme, est responsable de tout ce qui s'est passé au #Chaâmbi.

— Boukornine (@BoukornineBlog) July 30, 2013

The ruling counter-revolution which never sought to fight terrorism is responsible for what happened in #Chaambi

Nous sommes tous émus par ce qui s'est passé à #Chaambi, mais accuser immédiatement #Ennahdha d'avoir organisé l'embuscade c'est con.

— Habib M. Sayah (@Habsolutelyfree) July 29, 2013

We are all moved by what happened in Chaambi. But, quickly accusing Ennahdha is stupid

Monday's bloody ambush is deepening the political crisis Tunisia is already facing following the assassination of opposition MP Mohamed Brahmi on July 25. Thousands have been taking to the streets demanding the fall of the three-party coalition government, led by the Islamist Ennahdha Movement. A sit-in demanding the dissolution of the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), tasked with drafting a new constitution is under way. According Marsad, a civil society group which tracks the work of the NCA, 60 MPs withdrew from the NCA.

List of MPs for (red) and against (green) the dissolution of the NCA. Source: Marsad.tn

Tunisia's largest labor union has called upon the government to resign and put in place a technocratic one. The union opposed the dissolution of the NCA and suggested the formation of a committee of experts to revise the latest draft constitution in two weeks before submitting it for a vote in the NCA.

Après une déception de la part de l’ #UGTT , il ne nous reste que la rue. Continuons le combat. #bardo #ra7il #brahmi

— Ahmed Farhat (@farhat_amd) July 31, 2013

Following the UGTT's deceit, the only way left is the street. Let's carry on the battle.

L’#UGTT peut paraitre mou pour bcp, mais c les décisions les moins populistes et les plus réalistes qu'il ait pris depuis le #14jan #fb

— Nizou (@nizouu1) July 30, 2013

For many, the UGTT can appear soft. But, these are the least populist and most realistic decision, the UGTT took since January 14

As anti-gov protests continue, a military operation in underway to clear Mount Chaambi from suspected Islamic militants.