Algeria army surrounds terrorists

The Algerian army forces accompanied by parachutists have been carrying out a large-scale military operation in the hideouts of the so-called the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) since Saturday, Echorouk has learnt.

• The number of the mobilised soldiers is estimated at 200 from various military units in the province of Blida (70 km west of Algiers) from Boumerdes and Bouira (east of Algiers), said the same sources.
• The army forces surrounded all the terrorist strongholds in the areas of Chaabat El Amer, Thenia, Si Mustapha forest, Al Arbaatache, Lakhdaria and Bouira.
• Some 40 terrorists gathered in small groups are surrounded.
• The army forces were informed that leading terrorists are among the surrounding members of the GSPC including Abdelmoumene Rachid nicknamed Hutheifa Al Djound.
• The military forces have opened routes leading to the strongholds by using bulldozers to blow up mines set by terrorists to prevent them from reaching them.
• Sources say three soldiers were injured on Saturday in the explosions as 12 mines have been blown up since the beginning of the military operation.
• The army forces destroyed three terrorist hideouts.