During the
Second World War Ben Gardane Airfield was used by the
57th Fighter Group, which flew P-40 Warhawks from the airfield from 9 to 21 March 1943 during the Eighth Army advance into Tunisia from Libya, to which the 57th was attached. It was also used by
Spitfires from the
601 Squadron RAF. , Second World War Ben Guerdane is part of the
governorate of Medenine, it lies about 559km (347mi) by road from Tunis, making it the Tunisian city located farthest from the capital. It is the last major city in the governorate of Medenine with total population estimated at 66,567 inhabitants in 2014. It is located 32 kilometers from the Tunisian-Libyan border. It is best known both in Tunisia and Libya as a trade road and an open exchange market. Tunisians take advantage of the availability and variety of the goods existing in the shops. The great amount of these goods are basically imported from Libya and deemed less expensive. It is distinguished for its large population of
dromedaries estimated at 15,000 head. An annual festival devoted to them during the month of June. In March 2016, the
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Libya attacked the town in the
Battle of Ben Guerdane.
Islamic militancy According to
The Washington Post, "hundreds of young men have left Ben Guerdane over the past three decades to wage
jihad in
Iraq,
Afghanistan and
Bosnia, radicalized in part by a
repressive regime that persecuted Islamists". The leader of
Al-Qaeda in Iraq,
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi famously said of Ben Gardane, "if it was located next to
Fallujah, we would have liberated
Iraq."
Population and tribal diversity There is a mixture of
Berbers and
Arabs, who from the
Twazin tribal alliance which took place centuries ago as a tribal defense shield against the invasion, especially from the east towards
Libya. There is no historical record as to the date of the establishment of this alliance but the inhabitants of Bengardane still have this bond and are said to be proud of the alliance. Beside the
Twazin, there are other large tribes such as Jelidat, Rabai'a which have participated in shaping the heritage, culture and way of life in Ben Gardane. == Economy ==