The violence comes amid increasing international concern about Islamic State extremists in Libya and after dozens of tourists were killed in extremist attacks in Tunisia last year.
Ministry spokesman Yasser Mosbah says gunmen attacked a police station and military facilities at dawn today. He says security forces killed a large number of assailants. Hospital official Abdelkrim Sakroud said on state radio that three corpses had been brought to the hospital, including that of a 12-year-old girl.
The Tunisian military sent reinforcements and helicopters to the area around Ben Guerdane in eastern Tunisia and authorities are hunting several attackers who are at large. The ministry urged residents to stay indoors.