 |
| In the ruins above Tataouine. |
Tataouine, the Tunisian village that became famous the world over when used as Tatooine in the Star Wars films, is increasingly being used by Isis rebels crossing over from Syria, it has emerged. This could be a serious blow to the Tunisian tourist industry, as the small desert enclave has become on of its most popular attractions.
Although Tataouine is well within Tunisian borders, it is vulnerable to fighters crossing the southeastern desert, where there are few settlements, and it is strategically important as the first point of entry to major highways leading to the cities of the north. It's also used by smugglers and according to CNN, two arms caches have recently been found there. The country remains on high alert following an attack on the Bardo museum in Tunis last week.
The UK Foreign Office has warned Star Wars fans not to visit the area, saying that there is a high risk of indiscriminate attacks, including kidnapping.
