Five terrorists were shot dead by Tunisian security forces, Sofien Zaak, the spokesperson of Tunisian Interior Ministry said Thursday.

"It was a preventive operation launched by Tunisia's National Unit of Investigation for Terrorist Affairs and Organized Crime, in the early hours of Thursday in Jelma in Sidi Bouzid governorate in central Tunisia," Tunisian private channel Nessma TV quoted Zaak as saying.

A security officer was hit in the crossfire between Tunisian security units and the terrorists. Two explosive charges and firearms, belonging to a soldier killed by terrorists in 2015, were seized during the operation.

Security forces also seized two mobile phones, a sum of money and two hunting rifles.