Algeria: Gaid Saleh on patrol to southern borders

Algeria’s army Chief of Staff General Gaid Saleh arrived to the province of Illizi (south of Algiers) on Tuesday on a working visit to security forces in southern borders. The National Popular army conducts patrols as part of counterterrorism and borders protection from terrorist groups as they flee Mali to Libya and Niger.

Gaid Saleh is expected to hold a meeting after Iftar with senior officers in the fourth military zone and commanders of the National Gendarmerie’s regional groups in the south.

This comes as the army forces launched a military operation in collaboration with the National Gendarmerie a week before Ramadan and achieved positive results.

Earlier on Monday, the army forces killed three terrorists working for Tark Ibn Ziad battalion led by Abdelhamid Abu Zid who comes from Debdab area in Illizi.

The terrorists entered Algeria from Libya to carry out attacks in Illizi. They were on a Station five-wheel car which was shelled by a military helicopter. Many gun machines and ammunition were seized.

It is believed that the terrorists were in their way to the “Sons of Desert for Justice” group led by Termoune Abdesselam to provide them with arms as they operate in Tassili Mountains in Djanet (south of Algeria).