Security forces in New Caledonia shot and killed two men during an overnight operation, according to the public prosecutor on Thursday, bringing the death toll to 13 following months of unrest in the islands.

Clashes between French police and civilians in Saint Louis, a stronghold of the independence movement located just south of the capital, Noumea, have been reported.

Public prosecutor Yves Dupas alleged that security forces, on an observation mission, fired two shots after being "directly threatened by a group of armed individuals."

The first shot "hit a man, aged 30, positioned as a lone gunman, in the right side of the abdomen," while the second "hit a man, aged 29, in the chest."

Police were allegedly searching for around a dozen individuals suspected of involvement in attacks on security forces. “We're not terrorists, we're not in a state of war,” said one mother from the village where the operation took place.

A flashback

New Caledonia, with a population of about 270,000, has been rocked by unrest in mid-May, sparked by French plans to impose new rules that would give tens of thousands of non-indigenous residents voting rights.

France deployed thousands of troops and police to the archipelago, located nearly 17,000 kilometers (10,600 miles) from Paris. The violence resulted in hundreds of injuries and an estimated material damage of around 2.2 billion euros ($2.4 billion).

The electoral changes, which require amending the French constitution, have been effectively stalled since President Emmanuel Macron dissolved parliament for new elections. The July elections resulted in a lower house without a clear majority.

While unrest in the territory has decreased since mid-July, the road to Saint-Louis on Grande Terre remains closed. For the village's 1,200 residents, the only access is by foot after presenting ID at checkpoints. Only emergency services and ambulances are allowed entry otherwise.

Although most roadblocks across New Caledonia have been removed, a curfew from 10 pm to 5 am remains in effect. Since June 19, 13 pro-independence activists have been arrested, with seven currently imprisoned, including five in mainland France.

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